WASHINGTON: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden urged US lawmakers to approve a long-delayed military aid package for Ukraine, warning that without it Kiev cannot fend off a Russian invasion.
“The failure of the United States Congress to not support Ukraine is bordering on criminal neglect,” Biden said when he hosted Scholz in the Oval Office on Friday. “It’s outrageous.
The German leader – whose country is Kiev’s biggest military backer after the United States – said he hoped for progress in unblocking multibillion-dollar US aid to Ukraine.
“Without the support of the United States and without the support of European states, Ukraine would not have a chance to defend its own country,” warned Scholz.
Scholz also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “telling a lot of lies” in a “ridiculous interview” with US talk show host Tucker Carlson that aired on Thursday.
“He wants to get some of his neighbors’ territory. It’s just imperialistic,” Scholz said.
Biden did not respond when asked if Scholz would also discuss the issue of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is imprisoned in Russia.
In an interview on Thursday, Putin indicated he was interested in a prisoner swap where an American reporter would be released as part of a deal in which Germany would release a Russian convicted of assassinating a fugitive former Chechen rebel in Berlin.
The Scholz-Biden meeting will also include talks about escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Israel’s war against Hamas shows no sign of abating and Washington has launched strikes on Iran-linked targets following attacks on US troops.
