Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 21 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed on Wednesday in Beijing to strengthen economic cooperation while addressing trade imbalances, market access concerns, and the war in Ukraine, during Merz’s first official visit to China since taking office.
Despite its economic might, the European Union is often labelled a “geopolitical dwarf.” The only region where it acts as an indisputable player, able to assert its will with relative ease, is the Western Balkans, along with parts of Eastern Europe.
“Real security guarantees are needed before the war ends,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (14 February), warning that Russian aggression shows no sign of relenting.
Europe needs to develop global partnerships with key nations to tackle global problems together, chancellor tells Munich Security Conference
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday (29 January), declaring that Europe had found “self-respect” in standing up for a rules-based global order.
Germany’s Federal Chancellery has addressed allegations that the current Chancellor Friedrich Merz filed hundreds of criminal complaints for defamatory remarks and insults against him in the years before he took office.
India and Germany have agreed a range of deals to deepen cooperation between the two nations, with defence, trade and technology high on the agenda.
A Welt am Sonntag investigation, published in December 2025, has caused a stir in Germany, revealing that Chancellor Friedrich Merz initiated nearly 5,000 criminal complaints over online insults directed at him since 2021.
European countries and the United States presented a united front in support of Ukraine, unveiling security guarantees backed by Washington and a detailed plan for long-term assistance contingent on a ceasefire with Russia.
As Europe grapples with how to best support Ukraine in its ongoing battle against Russian aggression, key meetings in Brussels and Berlin are testing the continent's resolve.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to drop Ukraine's aspirations to join the NATO military alliance as he held five hours of talks with U.S. envoys in Berlin on Sunday to end the war with Russia, with negotiations set to continue on Monday.
The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on advancing a proposed peace framework, though analysts warn reaching a deal may be difficult.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany held a call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (10 December) to discuss Washington's latest peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine, in what they said was a "critical moment" in the process.
Ukraine is set to present a revised 20-point peace plan to the United States today, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European leaders work to steer Washington’s ceasefire framework away from concessions they fear could lock in Russian territorial gains.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday (4 December) firmly rejected U.S. proposals to use Russian assets frozen in the European Union for the benefit of the United States, emphasising that these funds should be directed to support Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made a call to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss the development prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Germany.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that despite recent progress in discussions over a revised U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, a major diplomatic breakthrough is unlikely this week.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the European Union must transform into a European defence union amid growing international security challenges.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Germany plans to deport Syrian citizens with criminal records and has invited Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Berlin for talks on the issue.
The leaders of 19 European Union nations have called on the bloc to launch a renewed effort to “review, reduce and restrain” legislation in order to boost economic competitiveness, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Germany’s Merz: Ukraine war could last for a long time
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday told a state party conference that Russia will only stop its war in Ukraine when it is unable to continue economically, and possibly militarily.
Britain, France and Germany are likely to trigger United Nations sanctions on Iran on Thursday over its nuclear programme according to sources, while giving Tehran 30 days to make commitments. Inspectors have returned for the first time since June, as talks have yet to yield concrete agreements.
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