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WASHINGTON (AP) — president joe biden Welcoming the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Friday’s talks come amid growing uncertainty in Europe about whether the White House will be able to break a deadlock in Congress that is blocking new aid. Ukraine due to war with Russia.
Mr. Scholz arrives in Washington Biden himself is prepared to expand on a claim he has made in recent months: A Russian victory in Ukraine would endanger the West and its allies. He also wants to emphasize that Germany continues to provide strong financing to Ukraine despite budget constraints.
With House Republicans blocking new U.S. funding, Scholz highlights the stakes of the debate inside and outside Europe. Republicans say the United States cannot afford to continue pouring billions of taxpayer dollars into Ukraine’s war effort and that Europe should do more for Kiev.
Speaking ahead of the White House meeting, Scholz said withdrawing aid to Kiev would have implications beyond Ukraine and could be more costly for Western governments in the long run.
“People around the world are watching closely to see whether these divisions are exploited and whether disinformation campaigns take root,” Scholz wrote in the paper. Wall Street Journal editorial published Thursday. “We have to prove them wrong by convincing people on both sides of the Atlantic that a Russian victory will make the world a more dangerous place. It would put the freedom and prosperity of each of us at risk.”
republican this week Blocked $118 bipartisan border package It was tied to funding to Ukraine and aid to Israel. The Senate voted Thursday to begin work on a more targeted package that would include about $60 billion for Ukraine and $35 billion for Israel. But questions remained about whether the measure would garner enough support from Republicans to pass.
The impasse means the United States has halted arms shipments to Kiev at a key point in the nearly two-year-old conflict, and as Russian President Vladimir Putin launches a relentless offensive, Ukrainian soldiers are It remains without sufficient ammunition and missiles.The US provided some funds to Ukraine $111 billion Since then President Putin launched a full-scale invasion.
German officials said Scholz used his time in Washington to focus on recent efforts by the 27-member European Union to support Ukraine’s cause, including paving the way for Ukraine to join the EU. He stated that the purpose was to shine a spotlight on the event, emphasizing the following: Germany nevertheless plans to spend more than 7 billion euros ($7.5 billion) on weapons deliveries. Domestic financial crisis.
Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund in Washington, said Scholz would listen to Biden’s “Plan B” if Congress remains at odds over funding for Ukraine.
“Really, in the absence of any future U.S. supplementary documentation, what tools does the U.S. government have at its disposal?” Conley said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden assured Scholz there was broad bipartisan support for continuing to support Kyiv despite the House’s “dysfunction” over Ukraine funding. He said he would clarify.
U.S. officials are also concerned that financial constraints are shaping Russia’s strategy, with a surge in attacks targeting Ukraine’s defense industrial base threatening to disrupt the production of munitions needed for Ukraine’s defense. It has been pointed out that the purpose seems to be to reduce the ability of the government.
“The president believes that support for Ukraine is extremely important, especially now that Russia is trying to undermine our defense industrial base,” Kirby said.
Scholz recently made this call. other european countries To step up further delivery of weapons Ukraine said, “Germany is not solely responsible.”
Before leaving Germany for Washington on Thursday, Scholz said Berlin was making “a very big contribution, but it won’t be enough unless there is enough support everywhere.” “Now is the time for us to do what is necessary. Give Ukraine the possibility of defending itself and at the same time send a very clear signal to the Russian president that our support cannot be expected to be relaxed. Send it.”
The White House said Mr. Biden and Mr. Scholz will also discuss the Israel-Hamas war and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit that the United States will host in Washington in July.
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AP video journalist Tracy Brown contributed to this report. Mr. Moulson reported from Berlin.
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