Chancellor Merz criticizes Russian President Putin's absence from Istanbul peace talks, saying a ceasefire could have been achieved if he had joined negotiations - Anadolu Ajansı

European allies have stressed the urgency of growing and improving their military capabilities to counter Russia.

In his first speech to the Bundestag, the new chancellor emphasized the rearmament of the country and briefly addressed domestic politics, such as immigration, a particularly sensitive issue in the nation.