© Reuters. Biden and Scholz meet at the White House 3/3/2023 REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
By Andrea Shalal and Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke on Friday about the war in Ukraine and shared concerns that China could supply Russia with weapons as it invades Ukraine. enters the second year.
Sitting next to Scholz in the Oval Office, Biden thanked the German leader for his “strong and steadfast leadership” and support for Ukraine. Scholz said it was important to demonstrate that allies will support Ukraine “for as long as it takes and for as long as it takes”.
Biden praised Scholz’s decision to increase Germany’s military spending and diversify energy sources beyond Russia, and said the two leaders worked closely with other allies to support Ukraine. US officials have said Ukraine is preparing for a new offensive by the Russians in the coming weeks.
“As NATO allies, we are making the alliance stronger,” Biden said, as the United States announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine, including ammunition and tactical bridges to move tanks and armored vehicles. .
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters shortly before the meeting that it would help the leaders discuss coordination in Ukraine and deepen their relationship.
The meeting with Scholz came days after Biden’s security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Biden only sent Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January because the German leader made it a precondition for sending German Leopard tanks.
Biden’s decision went against the advice of his military, Sullivan told ABC News. Berlin insisted and Biden came to see that it was necessary, and therefore the decision was consensual.
Scholz arrived in Washington as the United States is consulting with allies on whether to impose sanctions on China if Beijing provides Russia with military support for its war in Ukraine, according to four U.S. officials and other sources.
Neither Washington nor Berlin have evidence that Beijing has supplied Moscow with weapons, but US officials say they are monitoring the situation closely.
A senior European Union official said at a separate briefing that it would be an “absolute red line” if China supplied Russia with arms, and the EU would respond with sanctions.
Germany normally takes a much less aggressive stance towards China, its main trading partner, than the US, but Scholz on Thursday urged China not to supply Moscow with weapons and urged Beijing to pressure Russia to withdraw its Ukrainian forces, a speech well received by US officials.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, David Brunnstrom, Don Durfee, Andrea Shalal and Eric Beech)
((Translation Editorial São Paulo)) REUTERS AC