Biden calls for more Western support to Ukraine on Germany visit

Outgoing US president Joe Biden has called on Ukraine’s Western allies to keep up their support for Kyiv, telling a meeting of European allies in Berlin that the West needs to “sustain our resolve”.

Biden was welcomed to the event by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose government is Ukraine’s second-biggest military supplier after the US.

“As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must — we must — sustain our resolve, our effort and our support,” Biden said.

“And I know the cost is heavy. Make no mistake, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in the world where aggression prevails, where large states attack and bully smaller ones simply because they can,” he added.

Scholz said that “we will stand beside Ukraine as long as it is necessary,” pointing to a planned €46 billion international loan package funded by interest on profits from frozen Russian assets.

Biden and Scholz were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for discussions that also addressed the conflict in the Middle East.

Earlier, Biden said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which he described as “a moment of justice.”

“I told the prime minister of Israel yesterday, let’s also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace and a better future in Gaza without Hamas.”

An election in the balance

The visit comes amid worries that a victory for Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, could upset the relationships that Biden, the outgoing US leader, is hoping to pass on to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate.

The US presidential election, less than three weeks away, cast a long shadow over Friday’s visit as fears grow that another Trump presidency would see a return to punitive trade tariffs imposed on imports from key US security partners.

The former president has frequently expressed indifference to the security of Ukraine, refusing to say in a debate with Harris whether he wants the US ally to win its war against Russia — and even blaming Ukraine for Russia’s invasion in a recent interview.

He has also voiced doubts about coming to the defence of NATO members if they come under attack.

Germany’s Scholz seemed to address those concerns in Berlin. “Our position is clear: We are supporting Ukraine as strongly as possible,” Scholz said.

“At the same time, we are taking care that NATO does not become a party to the war so that this war doesn’t culminate in an even bigger catastrophe.”

Having visited other key allies such as Japan, South Korea, France, India, the UK, Poland, and Ukraine, Biden did not want his term to end without a visit to Berlin.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 81-year-old was honoured with the highest class of Germany’s Order of Merit for his contribution to transatlantic relations, an award that was also bestowed on his predecessor George H.W. Bush in recognition of his support for German reunification.