BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone on Thursday about arms deliveries to Ukraine, a spokesperson for the German leaders told Reuters. Merz initiated the call with Trump, the spokesperson said on Friday. Spiegel magazine first reported on the call.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed his country's offer to buy Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on Thursday, according to a government spokesperson.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees a connection between Russian President Vladimir Putin's phone call on Thursday with US President Donald Trump and the subsequent massive airstrikes on Ukraine, his spokesman said on Friday.

The potential accord with the European Union, which would spare European goods the 50 percent tariffs Trump has threatened, is one of a few deals the White House could finalize this week.

European Union negotiators have failed so far to achieve a breakthrough in trade negotiations with the Trump administration and may now seek to extend the status quo to avoid tariff hikes, six EU diplomats briefed on the talks said on Friday.