Germany news: Merz says Trump's Russia diesel deal 'out of question' for Europe

October 12, 2026

German fighter jets to take part in NATO nuclear drill

Germany is sending three Tornado fighter jets to Italy to take part in NATO's annual nuclear deterrence exercise, Steadfast Noon, which begins on Tuesday.

The aircraft, normally stationed at Büchel air base in western Germany, have been deployed to Aviano Air Base in northern Italy, a German Air Force spokesperson told the DPA news agency.

Several dozen German military personnel will also participate in the exercise, which rehearses NATO's ability to deploy nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict.

No live nuclear weapons will be used. NATO says the exercise is routine, unrelated to current world events and not directed against any particular country.

The alliance has not disclosed details of this year's scenario. Last year's exercise involved around 2,000 personnel and more than 70 aircraft.

Germany participates in NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangements, under which German aircraft could deliver US nuclear weapons in a conflict.

October 12, 2026

Germany's Merz slams Trump's Russian diesel deal

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has criticized US President Donald Trump's agreement to import Russian diesel, calling for tougher sanctions on Moscow instead.

"We take note of the agreement between the United States and Russia on diesel exports," Merz said in Berlin on Monday. "For Germany and Europe, such a decision is out of the question."

Merz said Russia would only negotiate seriously under pressure and called for further sanctions following Russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure.

He also questioned Trump's announcement of an immediate halt to Russian and Ukrainian attacks on each other's energy facilities, saying Moscow had responded with massive strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump's announcement of the partial ceasefire came as news to him, while the Kremlin has not confirmed that it has taken effect.

Merz reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine and said efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace would be discussed at this week's EU summit.

October 12, 2026

Tennis: Alexander Zverev will be world number 1 for the first time

The long-awaited mathematical confirmation has arrived: Germany's Alexander Zverez will take the top spot in the men's singles tennis rankings at the end of the year. 

A shock straight set defeat for Carlos Alcaraz on Monday in Shanghai against unseeded Belgian player Zizou Bergs made Zverev claiming the number 1 ranking innevitable. 

Aged 29, Zverev will be the oldest player ever to take over the top spot for the first time in his career. 

He said that knowing he'd finish the season at number was a "dream come true," and said he'd concentrate on finishing the season "in style."

It's been a year of breakthroughs for Zverev, whose career to date had long seen him living in the shadows of greats like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and later Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. 

He won his first two Majors, at the French Open and then the US Open, and was also runner-up to Sinner at Wimbledon. 

Sinner has not played since that final because of injury. Coupled with some patchy form from Alcaraz, this opened the door for Zverev to push to overtake them in the annual rankings. 

The last — and only — German man to top tennis' world rankings was Boris Becker, who had two brief mid-season stints at number 1 in 1991. He did not finish the year as number 1, though. 

Angelique Kerber also spent a combined seven and a half months at women's singles number 1 across three stints between 2016 and 2017, including at the end of the 2016 campaign. Steffi Graf meanwhile dominated the women's rankings for much of the period between 1987 and 1997.

October 12, 2026

SPD, Greens and Left party begin coalition talks in Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania

The Social Democrats (SPD) have opened up coalition talks with the Greens and the Left party in Germany's northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania, sources confirmed to local media.

The three parties have already held exploratory discussions on working together and received permission from party leadership bodies to move forward.

This comes several weeks after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in first in the state election with 38.2% of the vote. However, without an outright majority and no other parties willing to work with them, they were unable to form a government.

Together the SPD, Greens and Left will hold 32 seats in the 71-member state parliament, giving them three more seats than the AfD.

The regional party leaders, including incumbent SPD state premier Manuela Schwesig, are expected to issue a joint statement later today.

The trio faces a tight turnaround to secure a coalition agreement, as the state's new parliament will sit for the first time on October 20, after which there is a four-week deadline to hold an election for premier.

October 12, 2026

Klingbeil cancels India trip, calls for SPD leadership vote

Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has nixed a planned trip to India, saying that the Social Democrats need to hold a new vote for party leadership.

His announcement came shortly after the resignation of his party co-chair Bärbel Bas.

Klingbeil did not say whether he would run again, but confirmed that the rest of the party's top officials agreed the election was necessary.

October 12, 2026

Wadephul hails EU Russia sanctions

German Foreign Minsiter Johann Wadephul praised an "unprecedented sanctions blow" the European Union has levelled against Moscow.

"We are making it harder for Putin to continue his war of aggression in violation of international law, and his cynical attempt to wear down Ukraine's civilian population through murderous bombing campaigns," Wadephul said in a statement.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg to finalize the sanctions package.

It targets some 1,600 individuals and businesses related to Russia's war effort, and another 77 people and groups related to what the EU sees as illegal elections in occupied Ukrainian terrorities.

"We are increasing the pressure until Putin is ready to negotiate seriously about peace in Ukraine," Wadephul said, though he missed the Luxembourg meeting to participate in a CDU party summit in Berlin.

October 12, 2026

Frankfurt Book fair prize winner criticizes Germany's stance on Israel

Franco-British lawyer and author Philippe Sands accepted the prestigious Peace Price presented every year at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the premiere event of the German publishing industry.

Presdent Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised Sands as a committed humanist "who, despite growing resistance, fights tirelessly for human rights, justice and mutual understanding."

A professor of law at University College London and human rights lawyer at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Sands used his acceptance speech to criticize Germany's "inappropiate silence" on the Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

"It's not antisemitic. It's not anti-Israel. It's the truth," he said of the government's behavior.

You can read more about Sands and his speech here.

October 12, 2026

Cologne teenager badly injured while 'trainsurfing'

Public broadcaster WDR has said that 14-year-old was badly injured on Sunday night in Cologne after engaging in "trainsurfing," or attempting to ride on the top of a moving train.

The boy is reportedly fighting for his life at a local hospital after being struck by a powerful electrical current moving between the train and the overhead wires that power it. Authorities believe he could have been hit by 15,000 volts.

Trainsurfing is, of course, illegal, and still uncommon. However, authorities are worried that social media videos may encourage young people to attempt the dangerous stunt.

October 12, 2026

Söder: Those who voted for AfD speaker should show 'backbone'

"Do you want to go somewhere else? Then just say so," Bavarian leader Markus Söder said during an interview with public broadcaster ARD. 

As a member of the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of Chancellor Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU), Söder was referencing bloc members in the state of Saxony-Anhalt who are believed to have voted for a member of the far-right in a secret ballot.

Last week, Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) — whose chapter in Saxony-Anhalt is classified as right-wing extremist — was elected state parliamentary speaker.

This marked the first time the AfD has seen a member elected to such a position, and the first time in postwar Germany that a right-wing extremist has risen to this rank.

The populist BSW party had declared their intention to support Rausch's nomination alongside the AfD, but his win with 48 votes means that other lawmakers must have voted for him too. It is strongly suspected that these were members of the conservative CDU.

Rausch's election prompted outrage across Germany, including from CDU members who have accused their colleagues of abandoning the so-called "firewall" — the agreement amongst the country's mainstream parties not to support the AfD.

Söder called it "pretty poor form," from the CDU members in Saxony-Anhalt, saying they should "at least have the backbone" to make their decision public.

October 12, 2026

Labor minister and SPD co-chair Bärbel Bas resigns

Citing "open attacks" by members of senior coalition partners the CDU, Bärbel Bas has stepped down as co-leader of the SPD and as federal labor minister.

She also said a recent death in the family had influenced her decision to resign.

You can read our full report on the latest trial for Chancellor Merz's coalition here. 

October 12, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning from a crisp, autumnal Bonn!

Today Germany is talking about Bärbel Bas, federal labor minister and co-chair of the Social Democrats resigning amid coalition tensions with Chancellor Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU).

Additionally, Bavaria's Markus Söder has called on CDU members who voted for the election of a far-right parliamentary speaker in Saxony-Anhalt come clean about breaking the "firewall" against supporting the AfD.

All this and morning coming up in today's edition.