Efforts to form German coalition jolted by Trump's attack on Zelensky

Negotiators with Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc and their centre-left rivals, the Social Democrats (SPD), are set to meet on Monday for another round of exploratory talks aimed at sounding out a possible coalition government in Germany, reported dpa.

Merz is the likely next chancellor of Europe's biggest economy following the win by his Union alliance on February 23.

The talks, which began on Friday, have taken on new urgency after US President Donald Trump's clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday.

The public blow-up, in which Trump accused Zelensky of being "not ready for peace" and ungrateful of US support in the fight against invading Russian forces, sent shockwaves across Europe.

The exchange raised concerns about the future of critical US military aid to Ukraine and fuelled European fears that the US can no longer be counted upon as a reliable security ally.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the country "urgently needs a strong government" in place to deal with the unfolding crisis.

When the talks will move beyond the exploratory phase and into formal negotiations remains unclear. Merz has said he aims to form a government by late April.

Debate over boosting military spending and support for Ukraine played a major role in the election campaign, and is sure to dominant the coalition negotiations.

The SPD, led by caretaker Chancellor Olaf Scholz, placed third in the election, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD, however, is frozen out of power due to a policy of non-cooperation by other parties, known in Germany as the "firewall."