Chancellor Merz: "We speak with one voice – to support stability in the Middle East and a secure energy supply in Europe."

Chancellor Merz: "Good news from the Strait of Hormuz. However, passage must remain permanent, reliable and safe. We are aligned with our partners here in Paris on this. Germany stands ready to play its part in ensuring freedom of navigation."

Full statement: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/ceasefire-israel-lebanon-2768008

Statement by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on the ceasefire announced between Israel and Lebanon:

I want to reform our country because a strong Germany is a precondition for a strong Europe | Lars Klingbeil The war in Iran has exposed our dependencies. Europe, including the UK, must be bold about change, so nobody can blackmail us, says Lars Klingbeil, Germany’s finance minister and vice-chancellor

"I want 🇩🇪 & Europe, (...) that very much incl. 🇬🇧 as an integral ally & partner, to be strong enough that nobody can blackmail us. The solution is to become more sovereign, & to be clear, sovereignty is not nationalism".
🇩🇪 Vice-Chancellor @larsklingbeil.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A regional train pictured at Berlin Central Station

The Deutschland-Ticket, providing unlimited regional public transport for €63/month, is used by around 15m people in 🇩🇪.

According to a recent report, 12-20% of the journeys made with it, would have been made by car, which saved 2.5m tonnes of CO₂ per year. #GermanClimateAction

🇩🇪🤝🇬🇧

Two-thirds of the people in #Sudan are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. UN Relief Chief Fletcher & I spoke about how to urgently meet these needs. The #SudanConference in Berlin will make a significant contribution to collective relief efforts. - @aussenminister.diplo.de

German Chancellor Merz and Ukrainian President Zelensky in Berlin.

Merz said: "We once again call for a negotiated end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We will not accept any weakening of the EU or NATO. Therefore, we need smart and forceful diplomacy, which includes continuing to stand by Kyiv against the Russian aggressor."

German-Ukrainian Government Consultations in Berlin.

German-Ukrainian Government Consultations in Berlin.

Yesterday, 🇩🇪 Chancellor Merz and 🇺🇦 President Zelensky held the first German-Ukrainian Government Consultations in over 20 years—marking a major step toward strengthening ties between both nations.

New agreements were signed, incl. defence, reconstruction, energy & innovation.

Image of the certificate of The Scottish Register of Tartans to the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Edinburgh.

The Consulate General Edinburgh's tartan.

Designer Emily Redman presenting the registration certificate to Consul General Christiane Hullmann.

Our colleagues at the Consulate General in Edinburgh have their very own tartan! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Inspired by the German flag 🇩🇪, it represents the Day of German Unity: 3 colours, 10 stripes and 90 black threads for 3 Oct 1990, the date Germany was unified.

Debuting at Edinburgh Tartan Parade!

Exchange2change June 2026 Kicking off Connections Apply by 19 April 2026 Image of a group of young people standing in front of a goal post.

Apply now for "Kicking Off Connections" to go on a fully-funded exchange to 🇩🇪!

The programme is one of the Goethe-Institut UK’s flagship youth‑mobility projects, part of the #KensingtonTreaty.

📆 7–17 June 2026, Mönchengladbach & London
👉 for ages 14-17
ℹ️ www.goethe.de/ins/gb/en/sp...

Gorilla Fatou pictured with her birthday hamper.

Happy birthday, Fatou!

The world's oldest gorilla turned 69 yesterday. She has been at the Berlin Zoo since 1959 and is the zoo's oldest animal.

She lives in her own enclosure where she can enjoy peace and quiet away from the other lively gorillas.

German Chancellor Merz shakes hands with Ukrainian President in Berlin.

German Chancellor Merz has welcomed Ukrainian President Zelensky for government consultations in Berlin today.

Germany is cutting fuel tax by about 17 cents per litre for two months due to a spike in oil prices.

The aim is to quickly improve the situation for drivers and businesses across the country – especially for those who rely on cars and trucks for work.

Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon can be an important first step towards a future where both Israel’s legitimate security interests and Lebanon’s right to territorial integrity and sovereignty are respected. – @aussenminister.diplo.de in yesterday’s call with Youssef Raggi 1/3

Chancellor Merz: "I am deeply concerned about developments in the Palestinian territories. In my phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I made it clear: There must be no de facto annexation of the West Bank."

Marie-Louise Eta

Marie-Louise Eta has become the first-ever female head coach in the history of the men's Bundesliga and the first-ever female head coach of a men's side in European football's top five leagues.

Marie-Louise Eta replaces Steffen Baumgart at Union Berlin for the remaining season.

Chancellor Merz: "The Hungarian people have decided. My heartfelt congratulations on your electoral success, dear Magyar Péter. I am looking forward to working with you. Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe. Gratulálok, kedves Magyar Péter!"

Heerstraße in Bonn with cherry trees in full bloom.

View of the Inner Alster Lake in Hamburg with cherry blossom.

Cherry blossom in Dresden.

Cherry Blossom Festival in Marzahn, Berlin, 2022.

The cherry trees in many parts of Germany are in full bloom. 🌸

The Berlin district of Marzahn holds a Cherry Blossom Festival in mid-April every year. It takes place in the Gardens of the World with around 25,000 visitors expected to attend.

Island in the Weddell Sea not yet recorded on nautical charts.

German research vessel Polarstern in the Arctic Ocean during the ArcWatch expedition.

Researchers from Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute discovered a new island during an expedition on icebreaker Polarstern in Antarctica.

The team was surprised to spot the island that had only been marked as a danger zone on nautical charts.

The task now is to find a name for the new discovery.

Read full statement: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/statement-by-president-macron-prime-minister-meloni-chancellor-merz-prime-minister-starmer-prime-minister-carney-prime-minister-frederiksen-prime-minister-jetten-prime-minister-sanchez-president-of-the-european-commission-von-der-leyen-president-of-the-european-council-costa-2419478

"We welcome the two-week ceasefire concluded between the United States and Iran today."

"The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means."

Full statement ⤵️

Chancellor Merz: "I welcome the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran last night.

We thank Pakistan for its mediation.

The aim now is to negotiate a lasting end to the war. We are in close coordination with our partners on this matter."

Sorbian Easter eggs

Frohe Ostern from the German Embassy London!

Special stamps with the picture of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Germany is celebrating the late Queen!

A special stamp marks what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday on 21 April. It honours her legacy and work towards reconciliation between the UK and Germany.

From Big Ben to Bundesliga ✈️

A new direct London–Dortmund flight has launched.

The roughly 70-minute Wizz Air flight opens the door for business trips, quick city breaks and Bundesliga matches, while bringing the UK and Ruhr region closer together.

DW Global Media Forum 2026 Sharing solutions: The DW Global Media Forum 2026

Defending journalism matters now more than ever!

From 23–24 June at the DW Global Media Forum in Bonn, international journalists and media experts will discuss how strong journalism can cut through the noise. #GMF26

Register now: shorturl.at/CraJ7

International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist.

📚 Two German authors have been shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize.

Shida Bazyar's 'The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran' was translated from German by Ruth Martin.

'The Director' by Daniel Kehlmann (translated by Ross Benjamin) marks his second time to be shortlisted.

The 🇩🇪🇬🇧 friendship pact, the #KensingtonTreaty, is strengthening ties between our countries at all levels.

To discuss global challenges we are committed to tackling together, @germany.diplo.de's State Secretary von Geyr met his UK counterpart, FCDO’s Oliver Robbins, in Berlin today.

Statement by Foreign Minister Wadephul on his arrival in Kyiv: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/wadephul-kyiv-2762540

"The meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Bucha and Kyiv today sends a clear signal that the Ukrainians are part of our European family."

Read German Foreign Minister Wadephul's full statement: www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/...

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa visited Berlin today and met with German President Steinmeier, Chancellor Merz as well as Foreign Minister Wadephul and Economics Minister Reiche.