Bild: AOK alarm! €3,200 out-of-pocket costs for nursing home care / AOK-Alarm! 3200 Euro Eigenanteil fürs Heim
FAZ: Merz wants to defy the great powers with partners / Merz will mit Partnern den Großmächten trotzen
Funke: Merz: A new era of great powers / Merz: Neues Zeitalter der Großmächte
Handelsblatt: Gambling and losing? First escalation, then retreat: In the Greenland crisis, Trump hits his limits – with consequences for the entire West / Verzockt? Erst Eskalation, dann Rückzug: In der Grönland-Krise stößt Trump an seine Grenzen – mit Folgen für den gesamten Westen
RND: The price of the Arctic: Greenland’s natural resources and the new world politics / Der Preis der Arktis: Grönlands Bodenschätze und die neue Weltpolitik
SZ: Zelensky settles scores with allies / Selenskij rechnet mit Verbündeten ab
Tagesspiegel: Zelensky announces talks with the US and Russia about ending the war / Selenskyj kündigt Gespräch über Kriegsende mit USA und Russland an
taz: Now a Greenland crisis too / Jetzt auch noch Grünland-Krise
Welt: Merz speaks of a “new era” and delivers only old answers / Merz spricht von “neuer Ära” und liefert nur alte Antworten
GREENLAND
US President Donald Trump announces unlimited US access to Greenland: According to Donald Trump, the United States will secure unlimited access to the Arctic island as part of planned talks. The agreement is to apply without any time limit, give the US „everything it wants,“ and be free of charge. Part of the „Golden Dome“ military defense system is to be built in Greenland. On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Trump reached an agreement on Greenland with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte; details are still to be worked out. tagesschau.de, tagesspiegel.de
- Denmark has once again reaffirmed that state sovereignty over Greenland is not up for negotiation. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressed that political and economic issues could be discussed, but not the island’s membership in the Kingdom of Denmark.
- Belonging to Denmark: Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen emphasizes „red lines“ in talks with the US. n-tv.de
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on member states to step up their security efforts in the Arctic.
- NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus G. Grynkewich, said the growing cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic was a cause for concern, pointing to joint naval and air patrols. China rejected accusations that it poses a threat to Greenland.
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces a comprehensive investment package for Greenland. faz.net
- Entry into mining and water: US billionaires have long since divided up Greenland among themselves. n-tv.de
SPECIAL SUMMIT
EU states discuss future relations with the US after the Greenland dispute: EU Council President António Costa originally convened the meeting in response to US President Donald Trump’s claims on Greenland and his threats of tariffs. Even after Trump partially backed away from these plans, EU diplomats viewed the meeting as important for reassessing relations with Washington. In Brussels, there was relief over the provisional de-escalation, but several top politicians stressed that Europe must position itself more strategically and must not return to business as usual. tagesschau.de, sueddeutsche.de, derstandard.at, web.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised European unity, saying it had been able to „make a difference“ during the crisis. Even after Trump renounced the violent seizure of Greenland and threatened punitive tariffs, Merz said Europe must now strengthen its defense capabilities and economic competitiveness.
- French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the shared European stance on Greenland. Europe could only command international respect as a united entity, he said, while also urging vigilance.
- EU Council President António Costa reaffirmed that the EU would continue to firmly oppose any form of political or economic coercion.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke of a „serious blow“ to relations with the United States.
- After the de-escalation in the Greenland conflict, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked European partners for their support, stressing that solidarity had been of great importance to the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland during the tense phase.
- US President Donald Trump threatens Europeans with retaliation over the sale of US government bonds. n-tv.de
UKRAINE
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin receives US envoys for Ukraine talks: Talks in the Kremlin with US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ended on Thursday evening after more than three and a half hours. Trump adviser Josh Gruenbaum was also present. No details on content or progress were disclosed. In addition to a possible end to the war in Ukraine, topics included Russian assets frozen in the US and Russia’s potential participation in the „Peace Council“ initiated by Donald Trump.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump agreed on security guarantees for Ukraine on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. After being signed by both presidents, the agreement is to be submitted to the national parliaments. Trump said his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was that the war must be ended. n-tv.de
- Representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the US plan to hold joint talks on a possible ceasefire in the United Arab Emirates on Friday for the first time since the start of the war. The expert-level talks are to take place on Friday and Saturday in Abu Dhabi, Zelenskyy said. According to the Kremlin, an agreement would only be possible if territorial issues are clarified; Russia is seeking a diplomatic solution but will continue fighting until then. n-tv.de
- According to US envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukrainian exports could enter the US duty-free in the future if a peace plan is approved. This is intended to support reconstruction and strengthen Ukraine’s economy.
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb sees progress in diplomatic efforts in the Ukraine war and praised the pressure exerted by Donald Trump on Moscow. He expressed confidence that the 20-point plan with security guarantees and reconstruction aid could pave the way to peace.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized European states and NATO for insufficient support in defending against Russia. Europe was debating long-term perspectives but avoiding decisive action in the here and now, he said in Davos. sueddeutsche.de
Chancellor Friedrich Merz signals support for Canada’s push for alliances among mid-sized states. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney proposes that medium-sized countries cooperate more closely to hold their ground against the power politics of major powers. Speaking in Davos, Merz said the international order was increasingly based on strength and violence, but that countries were not powerless in the face of this trend. He called on Europe to act in a united and self-confident manner. At the same time, he warned against turning away from NATO and the transatlantic partnership; even the United States, he said, depended on trust in an era of great powers.zeit.de (Merz); deutschlandfunk.de (Carney)
Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil calls for talks with Paris on using French nuclear weapons to protect Europe: France has offered to place its nuclear weapons more firmly in the service of European security, Klingbeil told Der Spiegel. Germany should take up this offer and discuss options jointly with Paris. Germany’s commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty would continue to apply, Klingbeil stressed. At the same time, he said he explicitly wanted to maintain nuclear sharing with US weapons and deterrence through NATO. haz.de
Five EU states push ahead with return centers in third countries: Germany has agreed with Greece, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands to continue work on a model for return centers in third countries. According to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the agreement was reached on the sidelines of the EU interior ministers’ meeting in Nicosia. The aim is to house rejected asylum seekers who cannot be deported to their countries of origin or home countries. The planned „return hubs“ are to be operated outside the EU in the future and are intended to complement the participating states’ joint migration policy. tagesschau.de
Deportations rise sharply in 2025: According to the Interior Ministry, a total of 22,787 people were deported in 2025, representing a 14 percent increase from the previous year. In 2024, the figure was 20,084, and in 2023 it was 16,430 cases. Several state interior ministers also viewed the increase as a result of the renewed possibility since September of deporting certain offenders to Syria. zeit.de
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul presses for closer cooperation with the African Union in Addis Ababa: In view of geopolitical tensions, Johann Wadephul sees Africa as a key partner in preserving a rules-based international order. After a meeting with AU Commission Chair Mahamud Ali Jussuf, Wadephul stressed that Europe and Africa shared the conviction that integration and cooperation create stability. Jussuf also warned of a growing erosion of the international order and spoke of increasing uncertainty about future developments. focus.de
Association of German Cities calls for emergency aid due to record municipal deficit: According to the German Association of Cities, municipalities face the largest financial shortfall in history due to a massive budget deficit. President Burkhard Jung is therefore calling on the federal government for emergency aid and fundamental structural reforms. After consultations in Dresden, Jung warned that key areas such as culture, sports, and childcare were severely at risk. The deficit is expected to exceed 30 billion euros in 2025—almost five times as much as two years ago. swr.de
Fiscal equalization between federal states rises to 20 billion euros: The nationwide fiscal equalization system between Germany’s states grew significantly last year. According to calculations by the Bavarian Finance Ministry, the volume was 6.5 percent higher than the previous year. Bavaria remains the largest contributor with 11.7 billion euros and a share of nearly 60 percent, followed by Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Hamburg. More than 14 billion euros went to eastern German states and to Berlin, which once again was the largest recipient with 4.2 billion euros.welt.de, handelsblatt.com
Further reports:
- Government consultations: Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with ten ministers. tagesspiegel.de
- Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan: „The cuts are tough, but necessary.“ faz.net
- Federal Court of Justice does not consider „Knockout 51“ a terrorist organization. zeit.de
- End of the federal data atlas: 25-million-euro grave for administrative digitalization. heise.de
- Former Bundestag member Axel Fischer sentenced to a suspended prison term for bribery in the Azerbaijan affair; appeal announced. lto.de
Germany expels Russian diplomat over suspected espionage: Following the arrest of a German-Ukrainian woman on suspicion of working as an agent for Russia, Berlin has taken action. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office; a diplomat from the Russian mission was declared persona non grata. According to Der Spiegel, this diplomat was the contact person of the arrested suspect. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office says the woman passed on information related to the war in Ukraine and researched details about German arms locations as well as planned drone deliveries to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that the federal government will not tolerate espionage on German soil. tagesschau.de, stern.de, sueddeutsche.de
- The Russian embassy spoke of a „stupid provocation“ intended to discredit Russian diplomatic missions and rejected the espionage allegations as unfounded. spiegel.de
- The alleged spy was placed in pretrial detention. She is accused of passing confidential information to a Russian intelligence service and was arrested on Wednesday in Berlin.
Further news:
- Saxony-Anhalt: Minister-President Reiner Haseloff officially submits his resignation. mdr.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: SPD politician Rüdiger Erben dies at the age of 58. mdr.de
- Saxony: Call to abolish the civil-servant status of teachers across Germany. thueringer-allgemeine.de
- Brandenburg: Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner defends his concept of „remigration“ in the presence of AfD state politician Lena Kotre.
- Bavaria: Greens call for an „emergency backpack“ for all households. n-tv.de
- Brandenburg: State parliament committee rejects immunity for AfD politician Wilko Möller; investigations over the use of banned symbols during the 2024 state election campaign. rbb24.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: Minister-President Daniel Günther sticks to social media ban so that „children play outside again.“ abendblatt.de
- Rhineland-Palatinate: SPD wants to regionalize school supervision. echo-online.de
- Rhineland-Palatinate: Cooperation with the US justice system to be restricted. echo-online.de
DAVOS
Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls in Davos for a stronger European counterweight in the new era of great-power politics: Europe must firmly stand up for free and fair trade. State-subsidized distortions of competition, raw-material protectionism, and arbitrary tariffs must not go unanswered. Germany should play a key role in this. At the same time, he urged EU states to deepen military cooperation and become more capable in defense policy. Russia’s attack on Ukraine marked the beginning of a new era of great-power politics that goes beyond the war itself.
US President Donald Trump establishes a „Peace Council“ as a new international conflict body: The body is intended to resolve international conflicts, initially focusing on the demilitarization and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Trump will chair the council, decide on invitations, and hold veto power over all votes. In addition to the US, 19 other states signed the founding document; a total of 60 countries were invited. t-online.de
- Among the first signatories, alongside Hungary, Bulgaria was unexpectedly another EU member state.
- Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other predominantly Muslim countries have said they will join the initiative. Israel, Indonesia, Kosovo, and Vietnam have also committed.
- Donald Trump withdraws the Peace Council invitation to Canada. welt.de
- Several EU states have expressed reservations about Trump’s Peace Council, particularly due to the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, its strong alignment with Trump, and the possibility of purchasing permanent seats through large financial contributions.
- Belgium contradicts Donald Trump: not part of the Peace Council. focus.de
- EU Council President António Costa raised serious doubts about the compatibility of the charter and structure of Trump’s Peace Council, particularly regarding its mandate, leadership, and consistency with the UN Charter.
- France rejects participation in the Peace Council. Germany has so far responded cautiously. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that the UN remains the central body for international conflict resolution and clearly reaffirmed support for the rules-based international order.
- Russia wants the freezing of its funds in the US lifted in order to contribute one billion US dollars to Trump’s Peace Council. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on Washington to release the sum to support humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
EUROPE + WORLD
Dispute over provisional entry into force of the Mercosur agreement: After the European Parliament decided to have the Mercosur agreement reviewed by the European Court of Justice, pressure is growing in Brussels to apply the treaty provisionally nonetheless. Several politicians warn against further delays in light of growing trade tensions with the US. Supporters argue that the EU must remain capable of acting vis-à-vis South America. However, the review process is likely to significantly delay the full ratification of the agreement, which has been under negotiation for more than 25 years.
- EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber considers provisional application of the EU-Mercosur agreement legally permissible despite the lack of ratification. European Parliament Vice President Katarina Barley expressed a similar view on Deutschlandfunk radio and criticized members of parliament who refuse implementation as irresponsible.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described provisional application as necessary. Green Party leader Felix Banaszak criticized the vote. Baden-Württemberg Green Party lead candidate Cem Özdemir said too many had failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. focus.de
- France has called on the European Commission to respect the European Parliament’s decision against provisional application of the Mercosur agreement; a unilateral move could undermine public trust in the EU. France rejects the agreement due to concerns about its domestic agriculture.
Wind and solar power overtake fossil fuels in the EU electricity mix: According to the think tank Ember, wind and solar generated around 30 percent of electricity in 2025, compared with 29 percent from fossil fuels. Overall, 47.7 percent of EU electricity came from renewable sources. Nuclear power accounted for 23.4 percent, while coal-fired power generation fell to a record low of 9.2 percent. zeit.de, taz.de
Further reports:
- Right-wing motion of no confidence against the EU Commission fails again. rp-online.de
- Digital breakthrough: European Parliament calls for decoupling from US tech giants. heise.de
- European Parliament wants to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. orf.at
Online grocery retail growing significantly faster than the overall market: According to calculations by IFH Cologne, the volume of online orders for everyday consumer goods rose by more than ten percent—more than twice the growth rate of overall e-commerce. Food products in particular are driving growth and now account for more than half of sales in this segment. Net online sales of groceries clearly surpassed the six-billion-euro mark for the first time. logistra.de
Further news:
- Supervisory board chair Werner Gatzer: 30 percent of management positions at Deutsche Bahn are to be cut. table.media/berlin
- Nursing home costs continue to rise sharply. zdfheute.de
- Ifo proposes a uniform tax rate for inheritances. zeit.de
- Rossmann plans its own online pharmacy. n-tv.de
- Record: 16 Oscar nominations for „Blood & Sinners“. focus.de
Germans will debate nuclear deterrence, global trade blocs, and Arctic geopolitics until midnight—then spend 15 minutes arguing with the cashier because the Pfand machine ate a bottle worth 25 cents. Big-picture thinking is strong here. But when it comes to deposits? That’s where principles truly kick in.