Trump, Merz Meet on Ukraine, Trade, NATO

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held their first White House meeting, addressing the war in Ukraine, trade relations, and NATO defense spending. Merz emphasized Germany's consistent support for Ukraine and urged Trump to leverage US influence to pressure Russia, noting Ukraine's focus on military targets. Trump expressed his belief that the Ukraine war could have been averted under his prior leadership and likened the conflict to a quarrel between children, suggesting limited intervention. Both leaders acknowledged ongoing US-EU trade negotiations, critical to Germany's export economy, but did not anticipate major breakthroughs. Trump welcomed Berlin's increased defense spending and confirmed that US troops would remain stationed in Germany. Merz advocated for a stronger transatlantic relationship, and both leaders signaled willingness to cooperate on shared global challenges.