President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are set to meet in Washington to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The talks come at a critical moment, with mounting anxiety in Europe over the White House's ability to break an impasse in Congress that is blocking new aid to Ukraine for its war with Russia.
Scholz arrived in Washington ready to amplify an argument that Biden himself has been making for months now - a Russian victory in Ukraine would imperil the West and its allies. The German Chancellor also aims to highlight that Germany continues to provide robust funding for Ukraine despite budget constraints.
One of the focal points of the discussion will be the House Republicans' decision to block new U.S. funding for Ukraine. Republicans argue that the United States cannot afford to pour billions of dollars of taxpayer money into Ukraine's war effort, and they believe Europe should do more to support Kyiv.
Scholz is emphasizing the stakes of the debate for Europe and beyond. He warns that backing away from support for Ukraine would have consequences beyond the country's borders and could prove more costly to Western governments in the long run. In a recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Scholz wrote, 'We must prove them wrong by convincing citizens on both sides of the Atlantic that a Russian victory would make the world a far more dangerous place. It would also strain our budgets while putting the freedom and prosperity of each of us in peril.'
This week, Republicans blocked a $118 billion bipartisan border package that included funding for Ukraine and aid for Israel. Although the Senate voted to begin work on a narrower package that would provide roughly $60 billion for Ukraine and $35 billion for Israel, doubts remain about whether it can garner enough support from Republicans for passage.
The current impasse has resulted in the halting of arms shipments to Ukraine at a crucial juncture in the conflict, leaving Ukrainian soldiers without ammunition and missiles as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his relentless attacks. The United States has provided approximately $111 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the invasion began.
During his visit to Washington, Scholz will also draw attention to the efforts of the European Union in supporting Ukraine. He plans to highlight that the EU has paved the way for membership talks with Ukraine and that Germany alone is planning to allocate over 7 billion euros ($7.5 billion) for weapons deliveries, despite facing domestic budget constraints.
Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund in Washington, pointed out that Scholz will be interested in hearing from Biden about any backup plans in case Congress remains deadlocked over funding for Ukraine. The German Chancellor wants to know what tools the U.S. administration has at their disposal if the supplemental funding does not materialize.
U.S. officials are concerned that the funding impasse is shaping Moscow's strategy, as there has been a surge in strikes targeting Ukraine's defense industrial base. This seems to be aimed at weakening Ukraine's ability to produce the necessary munitions to defend itself.
Biden is expected to assure Scholz of the broad bipartisan support in the United States for continuing to back Ukraine, despite the dysfunction in Congress. The president believes that support for Ukraine is critical, especially as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine's defense industrial base.
In response to the crisis, Scholz has called on other European countries to step up by providing more weapons deliveries for Ukraine. He acknowledges that while Germany is making a significant contribution, it will not be enough on its own. Scholz stated, 'Now is the moment for us to do what is necessary - give Ukraine the possibility to defend itself and send the Russian president a clear signal that he can't expect our support to ease off.'
In addition to the Ukraine crisis, Biden and Scholz are expected to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the July NATO summit, which will be hosted by the United States in Washington.
The meeting between Biden and Scholz carries significant weight as both leaders are committed to finding a solution to the crisis in Ukraine and preventing further escalation. The world watches closely as they address the urgent need for aid and support to secure Ukraine's sovereignty and stability in the face of Russian aggression.
