In a recent interview with The Economist, Friedrich Merz, who is likely soon to be chancellor of Germany, said that there would be no return to Russian gas “for the time being”, but conspicuously failed to rule out the possibility.

The Kremlin said on Monday it would have to wait and see how ties between Russia and any new German government evolved after Sunday's election victory for Friedrich Merz's conservatives, saying there could be areas of cooperation of mutual interest.

Friedrich Merz, whose conservative party is ahead in polls before Sunday’s election, sees an “epochal rupture” with a United States that is more aligned with Russia.

The CDU’s Friedrich Merz said Sunday night that his top priority is to unify Europe in the face of challenges coming from the U.S. and Russia.

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German election winner says he will hold talks with other parties to adopt constitutional change in next 30 days

Outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded the election and decried the historic gains of the far-right conservative party, AfD. Early exit polls show AfD is headed for second place, while opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives are in the lead and Scholz’s party fell to third.

Germany could approve a fund to boost defence spending before the outgoing parliament steps down next month, while leaving debate over state borrowing limits to new lawmakers elected on Sunday, an ally of vote winner Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday.

The conservative party in Germany dominated elections during the weekend, with Friedrich Merz poised to become the nation's next chancellor.