By Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said Europe was prepared to fight if necessary for its core values of freedom and democracy, in an explicit riposte to the Trump administration's repeated criticisms of the European Union.

The first formal meeting of coalition partners ends in success as the parties agree on a wide range of measures for the government.

Germany’s new ruling coalition agreed to push ahead with measures aimed at stimulating the struggling economy and to enact as much legislation as possible before leaving for summer break in mid-July.

For decades, Germany has stood squarely in Israel’s corner, its dark history of Jewish persecution shaping its modern-day policy of virtually unquestioned backing.

Germany and Ukraine strike a deal to jointly develop weapons with "no range restrictions," as the Kremlin says Trump's jabs at Putin are due to him "not being informed." Germany's Friedrich Merz won enough votes on Tuesday to become the country's new chancellor after a second round of parliamentary voting after falling short.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has openly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, stating that a line has been crossed regarding international humanita

May 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will pay an official visit to Germany. In particular, he will hold meetings with Federal Chancellor

Germany plans to introduce legislation to abolish a fast-track option that allows well-integrated migrants to naturalize after three years in the country. The move is part of a wider effort by new conservative leader Friedrich Merz to make Europe’s largest economy less attractive to foreigners.