Biden calls on the West to continue supporting Ukraine as the US election approaches

As Kyiv faces a dismal winter and the impending U.S. presidential election casts doubt on Washington’s own determination, U.S. President Joe Biden encouraged the West on Friday to continue its support for Ukraine against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

During a final one-day visit to Berlin, Biden was addressing reporters before meeting behind closed doors with ally German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss issues ranging from Ukraine to the escalating Middle East war.

In a statement, Biden added, “We must, we must sustain our resolve as Ukraine faces a tough winter.” “And I know the cost is heavy, but make no mistake, it bears in comparison to the cost of living in a world where aggression prevails, where large states attack and bully smaller ones simply because they can.”

Increasing military assistance to Ukraine and supporting its civilian energy infrastructure “by unlocking the value of frozen Russian assets” are two ongoing initiatives that he said he will discuss with Scholz. They would also talk about the turmoil in the Middle East.

Biden’s travel coincides with the U.S. presidential election, which is just two and a half weeks away. The Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, is running for reelection against the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump has hinted that he would be less inclined than Biden to keep helping Ukraine, which may cost Kyiv its largest source of financial and military support.

Additionally, he has hinted that limits will be placed on U.S. assistance to NATO countries in the western military alliance.

Earlier Friday, during a ceremony to give Biden Germany’s highest order of merit, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made reference to the tense European-U.S. ties that existed during Trump’s first 2017–2021 term.

He remarked, “Just a handful of years ago, the distance had grown so wide that we almost lost each other,” referring to the United States and Europe. “When you were elected president, you restored Europe’s hope in the transatlantic alliance literally overnight.”

According to Steinmeier, the NATO alliance is essential.

Therefore, I hope that Europeans will remember how important America is to us in the months to come. And I hope Americans never forget how important your allies are to you,” he continued.

US ELECTION LOOMING

Biden and Scholz were scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Friday afternoon. The main topic of discussion will be how to put a stop to the bloodshed in Ukraine as Russian forces move eastward.

Macron told reporters on Thursday that “the nature of security guarantees is the key question, and so that’s what we will talk about tomorrow.”

Biden’s tight working connection with Scholz is demonstrated by the fact that he is traveling to Berlin for what may be his final trip to Europe as president.

According to Sudha David-Wilp of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Biden established trust with Germany at the beginning of his term and ignored the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline project for a while. The project’s goal was to double the amount of Russian gas flowing directly to Germany.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Washington was able to work closely with Berlin thanks to this improved cooperation; Russian gas imports were cut while German defense spending was quickly increased to fulfill the NATO aim of 2% of GDP.

In August, Berlin was also instrumental in a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and the West that resulted in the release of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and American journalist Evan Gershkovich from Russian captivity.

Biden referred to Germany as the “closest and most important of allies” and urged Berlin to continue spending on defense “because it matters.”