Joe Biden lauds German Chancellor Scholz for ‘profound’ military, moral support to Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday for standing with the U.S. in providing military and moral support to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
“Beyond the military support, the moral support you’ve given Ukrainians has been profound. Profound,” Biden said at the start of an Oval Office meeting with the German leader.
Scholz, making what U.S. officials described as “a working visit” to Washington, called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “dangerous threat to peace” and stressed that it’s important to send a message that NATO allies will stand behind Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”
Scholz’s hour-long meeting with Biden was his second trip to the White House since he took office in 2021, but the first since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago. The trip follows the joint announcement in January that the U.S. and Germany would send armored tanks to Ukraine as the country prepares for a new Russian offensive.
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Germany pressured U.S. to send tanks to Ukraine
The U.S. decision in January to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine came after the Biden administration reversed course under pressure from Germany and other allies.
Ukraine had sought the frontline battlefield tanks, which it considered crucial to stave off a springtime offensive from Russia and to help Ukrainians claw back parts of their country seized during the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping health care, tax and climate change law passed last year.
Europeans are concerned that the credits, many of which apply only to content made in North America, will place European manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage.
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Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook
Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.