Germany’s Merz wants ‘common’ European plan for peace in Ukraine as Trump looms

Ukraine's major European allies should forge an alliance aimed at agreeing on a "common vision" for peace in Ukraine, the leader of Germany's conservative opposition, Friedrich Merz, said during a visit to Kyiv Monday.

Merz, who is in pole position to become Germany's next chancellor ahead of a federal election in his country slated for Feb. 23, suggested European leaders, along with Ukraine, would need their own strategy for how to bring an end to the war given the impending arrival of Donald Trump in the White House.

"With the change of power in the U.S. there is a possibility we will have a new situation and we have to prepare for it," said Merz in Kyiv. "We have to create a common strategy" within Europe.