Washington DC, 4 March 2023 (TDI): President of the United States (US), Joe Biden met with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz recently and applauded him for his leadership and continuous support of Ukraine.
“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 held in the White House.
In response, German Chancellor Scholz 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”.
Ahead of the meeting, the US announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine to provide additional support in protecting the country’s sovereignty.
The package includes ammunition for US-provided weaponry and armored vehicles, as well as demolition munitions and other equipment.
These steps have been taken to help Ukrainians claw back parts of their country seized during the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Joe Biden ensured that the US is committed to supporting Ukraine in its security and defense efforts, and will continue to provide necessary aid for their stability and prosperity.
As it will improve and stimulate Ukraine’s defense capabilities against potential aggression and enhance the country’s security posture.
Support by Germany for Ukraine
Germany has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since 2014 when the country’s government was overthrown in the Revolution of Dignity. Since then, Germany has provided political, economic, and security assistance to Ukraine.
In March 2020, the German government approved a new package of €1 billion for Ukrainian reforms, as part of the EU’s strategy for supporting the country.
Germany has also provided financial support for the reform of the Ukrainian energy sector, reform of Ukrainian justice, public administration, and reform of media, education, and healthcare.
In terms of security assistance, Germany has provided military training and advisory support to Ukrainian forces. In 2018, the German government delivered a second tranche of military hardware to Ukraine, including 200 heavy tanks.
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In 2021, Germany pledged €6 million to support the implementation of the Minsk agreements in Ukraine.
Germany has also committed to contributing to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, providing assistance to civil society organizations, and offering military and medical training for Ukrainian troops.
Moreover, Germany is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including through its involvement in the Normandy format.
Overall, Germany has committed a total of €3.5 billion to Ukraine since 2014 and remains a strong supporter of the country.
Crux of meeting
During the meeting, the German Chancellor expressed his appreciation for Biden’s commitment to strengthening the trans-Atlantic relationship between the US and Europe.
Also, he emphasized the urgency of defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to prevent any further escalation of the crisis.
To mention, he highlighted the importance of providing economic support to Ukraine, as well as maintaining strong sanctions on Russia for its continued aggression against Ukraine.
At the conclusion of his remarks, he expressed Germany’s commitment to working together with the US and the EU in order to implement a lasting political solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
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