The first direct US-Russia talks in Riyadh dominated coverage, with Moscow signaling openness to Ukraine's EU membership while maintaining NATO opposition. By noon, reports emerged of a potential Putin-Trump summit, while European leaders found themselves increasingly sidelined.
The ARD election arena's aftermath revealed unexpected cordial treatment of Weidel, while Merz and Scholz explicitly rejected future cooperation. A US documentary criticizing German speech restrictions gained traction, with Vice President Vance's criticism resonating. New polls showed CDU/CSU losing ground.
Evening coverage focused on Ukraine's strategic pipeline attack preceding the Riyadh talks, while Continental announced 3,000 job cuts. The AFD faced a new donation scandal, as public sector unions announced nationwide strikes. Rheinmetall expected increased orders amid shifting geopolitical alignments.