US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz demonstrated unity in Ukraine during their hour-long meeting in the Oval Office this Friday. “The United States and Germany agree on Ukraine, and that strengthens NATO,” the White House tenant said. For his part, his visitor described the Russian invasion as “a very dangerous threat” and insisted that the Allies would maintain their support for Kiev “as long as necessary”.
The leaders of the two powers met amid commemorations to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both who until recently were the most reluctant to supply offensive weapons to Ukraine have changed stance to give their blessing to tank supplies – American Abrams and German Leopards – and insist the Atlantic Alliance in its resolve to support Ukraine is fully united. Kyiv. The White House repeatedly expresses “unwavering support for Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”
That same Friday, the Biden administration announced a new batch of $400 million in additional military aid, number 33, which it is sending to Kiev. The new package includes, among other things, ammunition for the HIMARS long-range missile system and Bradley tanks. Precisely analyzing what Volodymyr Zelensky’s government might need in the coming months and how to procure it for him would be one of the dominant themes of the meeting.
In their short statements at the beginning of the meeting, both heads of government repeatedly emphasized the good harmony between their governments and the excellent cooperation between them. “This is a very relevant association that is very well positioned today,” emphasized Scholz. Unity on aid to Ukraine is particularly needed, he added. “It is really important that we act together in a coordinated manner,” he stressed. Biden, for his part, thanked the German head of state. “They stepped forward to provide critical military support. And beyond the military support, the moral support he gave to the Ukrainians was profound.”
Scholz’s visit to Washington is the Chancellor’s second in just over a year; The German leader had come to the White House just weeks before the start of the war. On this occasion, the fanfare surrounding this type of travel was kept to a minimum. An hour meeting in the Oval Office ―part of it alone between the two leaders― with no press conference or group of journalists accompanying the German leader. Both leaders, a senior US official said, “wanted it to be a business meeting, they wanted to go deep, to focus on Ukraine issues.” “A sign of the good state the relationship is in,” the senior official said.
Both also wanted to address China’s position: Washington denounced that President Xi Jinping’s government was considering for the first time supplying arms to Russia, its major strategic partner, and warned of “serious consequences” should Beijing go down this route. Scholz, whose country has excellent trade relations with the Asian giant, has also urged China not to help Moscow.
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The public declarations of unity also seek to persuade European partners to maintain their support for Ukraine when the conflict appears to be entering a new phase with Moscow and Kiev preparing new offensives. Biden has conducted an intensive outreach campaign between the allies to ensure there are no cracks in the positions. Last week he added a meeting with NATO members in Eastern Europe to his surprise visit to Kiev; In seven days he will receive EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the White House.
The prospect of a protracted war may deepen already hinted divisions among the allies, some of whom are already pushing for peace talks.
In their own countries, the two leaders are registering increasing opposition from their citizens to unconditional and extensive aid to Ukraine for an indefinite period. In the United States a year ago, half of adults perceived the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a major threat to the country’s interests. By January 2023, that proportion had dropped to 35%. Among Republican voters, the decline was even more pronounced: from 51% at the start of the war to 29% now. In this ideological group, four out of ten citizens consider visiting Kiev to be “too much”; at the beginning of the war only 9% thought so.
As public enthusiasm wanes, some Republican lawmakers have already expressed skepticism at the continued and never-ending support. The impending entry into election campaign mode in Germany before the presidential elections in November 2024 heralds a possible hardening of these positions.
Even the unity Biden and Scholz have flaunted has been put to the test. This weekend, in statements to ABC television, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan implied that Biden gave the green light to ship Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January, despite recommendations against his military advisers over Scholz’s demands this as a condition of approving the delivery of Leopards. Berlin, on the other hand, claims that Biden recognized the need for transport and that the decision to send tanks was mutual. Both governments initially resisted authorizing the shipment, fearing it would lead to serious Russian retaliation in Ukraine.
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