Joe Biden calls on Berlin to “not relax” support for Ukraine

The American president calledé Friday à Berlin à "do not release" support for Ukraine, which is in trouble more than two and a half years after the start of the Russian invasion.

NATO allies must “maintain their support” until Ukraine achieves “a just and lasting peace,” Joe Biden said, as Western aid shows signs of weakness and the United States, if Donald Trump wins the November presidential election, could radically review its policy.

The American head of state, who arrived the day before in Germany for a lightning farewell visit to one of the United States' most loyal allies in Europe, condemned the “vicious attack” by Russian President Vladimir Putin launched in February 2022.

– Ukrainian difficulties –

US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin on October 18, 2024 © AFP – John MACDOUGALL

This call comes as Ukraine retreats on the eastern front and suffers incessant bombardment by Russian artillery, particularly on its critical infrastructure.

Germany, the second largest arms supplier to kyiv after the United States, has already halved, to four billion euros, its budget allocation for Ukraine for 2025.

Furthermore, none of the demands made so far by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his “victory plan”, which he presented to the EU and NATO on Thursday, have so far met with unanimous support from the Allies.

President Macron stressed in Brussels on Thursday evening that “the question of security guarantees” for Ukraine would be raised at the meeting of Western leaders in Berlin.

He added that he supported a request from kyiv to invite Ukraine to participate in NATO summits.

“It is important that we evaluate all possibilities for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” said Olaf Scholz, also in Brussels.

– Turning point in the Middle East –

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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier with US President Joe Biden after awarding him the National Order of Merit, Germany's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony at the Bellevue presidential palace in Berlin on October 18, 2024 © AFP – RALF HIRSCHBERGER

In welcoming Joe Biden, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised a “leader for democracy” who has shown unwavering support for NATO and Ukraine “at the most dangerous time since the end of the Cold War.”

Joe Biden received the National Order of Merit for his contribution to the transatlantic relationship and the defense of democracy.

Among the guests was Margot Friedlaender, 102, a Holocaust survivor who grew up in Berlin, was interned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, emigrated to the United States and then returned to her hometown in 2010.

After Donald Trump's tumultuous presidency (2017-2021), the mandate of Joe Biden has marked a clear warming between Washington and Berlin, particularly on the Ukrainian issue where the two countries have regularly aligned their decisions.

The 81-year-old Democrat, who withdrew from the presidential race, postponed his trip to Germany a week ago due to Hurricane Milton.

During this 24-hour trip, he will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz as well as French leader Emmanuel Macron and British leader Keir Starmer.

In addition to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East is the other hot topic of discussion.

Israel's announcement on Thursday evening of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed during a military operation in the Gaza Strip, marks a turning point in the war triggered by the Palestinian movement's attack on Israel on October 7 2023.

Joe Biden said upon his arrival that he had called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “congratulate” him, while hoping that this would pave the way for peace in the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will soon travel to Israel for several days, he announced, adding that he “hoped” to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Now is the time to move forward,” he said.

The death of Yahya Sinwar represents “an opportunity that we must seize together to bring a better day to the people of Gaza, Israel and the entire region,” commented his security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Europeans and Americans are concerned about both the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the escalation in Lebanon between Israel and the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah.

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