Merkel told how she should behave with Trump

Europe must unite and feel confident in co-operation with the new head of the United States. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this at a New Year's reception at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Düsseldorf, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reports.

We will not change Donald Trump, but we can answer to him," Merkel said.

Merkel noted that Trump is an "extraordinary" president and puts US interests above the rest. In addition, he does not believe in partnership and mutual benefit and believes that in any interaction someone wins more.

At the same time, she emphasised that it would be foolish for the Trump administration to refuse to cooperate with Europe.

The former chancellor called transatlantic co-operation even more necessary than before and said it was necessary to restore the main principle of the post-war order - territorial integrity.

Merkel led the German government for 16 years - from 2005 to 2021. The time of her leadership of the republic was the first presidential term of Trump.