President Joe Biden welcomed new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the Oval Office in a possible test of Germany’s willingness to stand with the US in confronting Russia and its threats to invade Ukraine.
Ahead of their bilateral meeting on Monday afternoon, Biden told reporters that the US and Germany are ‘in lockstep’ in facing off aggression from Russia.
‘We’ve got a lot to talk about,’ said Biden, mentioning the coronavirus pandemic, China and climate change.
Scholz said it was an ‘an important meeting at an important time’ and that the two countries are working ‘intensely’ against Russia invading Ukraine.
The German chancellor arrived in Washington DC as Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent to the border 70% of the military personnel and weapons he needs to invade Ukraine.
Before the meeting, US officials told CNN that Biden and Scholz would spend the bulk of their meeting discussing the Ukraine issue, including preparing a ‘robust sanctions package’ to punish Russia if it moves forward with an invasion.
Germany has appeared to be the most reluctant among the US’s allies to confront Russia. Germany has sent thousands of helmets instead of weapons and refused to let NATO ally Estonia provide German-produced howitzers to Ukraine.
Asked about Germany’s apparent softer response to Russia, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday said that Biden has noted that different countries make different contributions.
‘Today is an opportunity for the president to build on the relationship with the chancellor, to continue to build the long and abiding relationship with Germans,’ Psaki said. ‘And we are united in our view of the actions, the potential actions of the Russian leaders and are untie din our (intentions) to hold them accountable.’
Scholz took office in December, succeeding Angela Merkel.
Biden and Scholz did not answer reporters’ shouted questions before they were ushered out of the closed meeting. The president and chancellor are scheduled to hold a joint press conference at 3.15pm ET.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
