WASHINGTON – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives on the White House on Friday for what U.S. officers described as “a working go to” with President Joe Biden to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine and different points.
The hour-long go to will likely be Scholz’s third to the White House since he took workplace in 2021, however the first since Russia invaded Ukraine a 12 months in the past. The journey follows the joint announcement in January that the U.S. and Germany would send armored tanks to Ukraine because the nation prepares for a brand new Russian offensive.
The 2 leaders are anticipated to discuss efforts to impose prices on Russia for its aggression in opposition to Ukraine and strengthen transatlantic unity. They can even overview continued cooperation on a spread of regional and international safety points, together with challenges posed by China and cooperation within the Indo-Pacific.
Many of the assembly, although, will likely be devoted to Ukraine.
“They are going to speak concerning the sorts of capabilities that Ukraine continues to want within the weeks and months forward,” John Kirby, spokesman for the Nationwide Safety Council, advised reporters on Thursday.
The U.S. is anticipated to announce one other spherical of help to Ukraine on Friday, principally ammunitions and munitions that the Ukrainians will want for protection techniques they have already got, Kirby stated.
Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a shock go to to Kyiv final week, and Scholz met with the Ukrainian chief final month in Paris. Friday’s assembly will give them an opportunity to trade notes and assess the place the conflict stands.
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Germany pressured U.S. to ship tanks to Ukraine
The U.S. resolution in January to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine got here after the Biden administration reversed course below stress from Germany and different allies.
Ukraine had sought the frontline battlefield tanks, which it thought-about essential to stave off a springtime offensive from Russia and to assist Ukrainians claw again components of their nation seized during the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However Biden had resisted due to the tanks’ refined upkeep and coaching and since army advisers questioned their usefulness on the battlefield in Ukraine. Germany, nevertheless, refused to ship its Leopard 2 A6 tanks into Ukraine except the U.S. agreed to ship the Abrams tanks.
Ultimately, Biden determined to give Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks, and Germany agreed to ship 14 of its Leopard 2s.
Requested by a reporter whether or not Germany persuaded the U.S. to change its place on the tanks, Biden stated on the time, “Germany did not drive me to change my thoughts. We needed to ensure that we have been all collectively.”
Why U.S. and its allies are watching China
One matter possible to be on the agenda for Friday’s assembly is concern among the many U.S. and its NATO allies that China could present deadly weaponry to Russia in its conflict in opposition to Ukraine.
Kirby stated the U.S. does not consider that China has decided to ship weapons to Russia, “however we do not consider they’ve taken it off the desk.”
The U.S. has raised its issues with China and warned that sending weapons to Russia is “not of their greatest pursuits,” Kirby stated.
White House Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan stated Sunday the U.S. has made clear behind closed doorways that such a transfer would have severe penalties and would come “at actual prices” to China. He didn’t elaborate on what these prices is likely to be.
Why Europe is worried about local weather change subsidies
One other difficulty possible to come up during Biden’s assembly with Scholz is European issues over new tax credit out there to People who buy electrical automobiles and different inexperienced applied sciences. The subsidies can be found below the Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping well being care, tax and local weather change regulation handed final 12 months.
Europeans are involved that the credit, lots of which apply solely to content material made in North America, will place European producers at a aggressive drawback.
Dig deeper
‘Finish this conflict of aggression’: Blinken, Lavrov meet for first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Uncertainty: Russia will be out of ‘military tools’ by spring, Ukraine’s top military spy says
‘We’d like to preserve dwelling’: What life is like for Ukrainians a year into Russia’s invasion
‘It is exhausting, however they’re holding on’: On the ground in Ukraine, the war depends on U.S. weapons
Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook
Michael Collins covers the White House. Comply with him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine, China on agenda for Biden meeting with German chancellor
