Monitoring Desk
WASHINGTON: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to visit Washington on Friday for talks with the United States (US) President Joe Biden on mapping the way ahead in their assistance for Ukraine after friction over providing tanks to Kyiv.
Scholz’s first visit to Washington since February 2022 allows the leaders to demonstrate their resolve in supporting Ukraine against Russia.
But the talks will also likely discuss issues dividing the two, including Berlin’s fears over the United States’ green subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act and the United States’ caution over Germany’s continued strong economic relations with Beijing.
US, Germany relations
Scholz’s spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said the two of them are more concerned about the way ahead — what will the coming months in Ukraine look like? What does that mean for the assistance that the Western allies can organize for Ukraine?” said.
He said they would “certainly discuss one or two other topics,” but he declined to elaborate.
In an address to parliament, Scholz said the collaboration was “closer and more trusting than ever.”
Scholz hints at the ongoing discussions among allies as the Ukraine war enters the second year.
“We are speaking with Ukraine and other partners over future security guarantees for the country,” he told the Bundestag.
But Russia on Friday warned Western nations against providing more military equipment to Ukraine, singling out Germany ahead of Olaf Scholz’s meeting with Joe Biden.
The German chancellor’s visit also comes after tensions over the delivery of modern tanks long sought by Kyiv, which was agreed to at the end of January.
Jake Sullivan, US national security advisor, said that German authorities had said no Leopard tanks would be provided “until the president also agreed to send Abrams tanks.”
