Foreign Minister Baerbock questions plausibility of quick diplomatic solution, says Europeans must be involved in any peace talks - Anadolu Ajansı

Chancellor Olaf Scholz told US President-elect Donald Trump that Germany is ready to continue “decades of successful cooperation” between the two countries.During their telephone call Sunday, they also “agreed to work jointly for a return to peace in Europe,

Donald Trump has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, according to a report in the US media. Meanwhile, Germany's Olaf Scholz has stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with Washington.

The decision follows a budget fight that prompted Chancellor Olaf Scholz to fire his finance minister and announce a confidence vote that is widely expected to fail.

Germany is set to hold fresh elections on February 23, eleven weeks after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition, with sources on Tuesday saying the Social Democrats, Greens and conservatives had reached a compromise on timing.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian democratic (CDU/CSU) opposition, is pushing for a confidence vote before Christmas.