Biden and Germany’s Scholz to Meet at the White House on February 9, According to Reuters

By David Shepardson and Maria Martinez

WASHINGTON/BERLIN – President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on February 9 to garner support for further assistance to Ukraine, according to a statement from the White House.

During their meeting, the leaders will reiterate their commitment to supporting Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion. They will also address strategies to prevent escalation in the Middle East, affirm Israel’s right to self-defense, and stress the importance of enhancing humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in Gaza.

This meeting comes at a pivotal time as bipartisan discussions are underway in the U.S. Senate regarding a border security deal that some Republican senators have linked to additional aid for Ukraine.

Biden described the proposed Senate border deal as the "toughest and fairest" reforms achievable, promising to improve border security promptly after signing the bill.

The President has requested $61.4 billion in additional funding aimed at supplying weapons to Ukraine and replenishing U.S. military resources as the conflict with Russia approaches its two-year milestone. This funding request is part of a broader supplemental package that also seeks $14.3 billion for Israel and $13.6 billion for border security.

Earlier this month, Scholz criticized many European Union countries for not providing adequate military support to Ukraine, urging allies to enhance their contributions.

Germany has committed to increasing its military aid to Ukraine to €8 billion (approximately $8.7 billion) in 2024, and recently announced it would supply six "Sea King" helicopters from its military stock to Ukraine this year.

Kyiv and Western nations assert that Russia’s invasion in 2022 was an unprovoked act of aggression aimed at territorial expansion, while Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that the invasion was necessary for the protection of Russia’s security.

The German government’s press office did not provide any comments on the upcoming meeting.