President Biden on Friday urged Germany and other Western allies to maintain their support for Ukraine during what could be his final trip to Europe as president, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of Russia’s invasion.
“German leaders had the wisdom to recognize a turning point in history, an assault on a fellow democracy, and also on principles that upheld 75 years of peace and security in Europe,” Mr. Biden stated after receiving Germany’s highest honor, the grand cross special class of the order of merit, at a ceremony in Berlin's Bellevue Palace.
He stressed that allies must continue to work tirelessly to “ensure that Ukraine prevails and Putin fails and NATO remains strong and more united than ever,” while acknowledging the challenges posed by an impending harsh winter. “We cannot let up. We cannot,” he added.
The visit was initially planned to showcase U.S.-German cooperation regarding support for Ukraine, but the recent killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, complicated the agenda. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sinwar's death, describing it as a significant step towards ending Hamas’s rule in Gaza.
During Mr. Biden's flight to Berlin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that the president’s discussions with German leaders would unfold against significant developments in the Middle East, which have previously caused friction between the U.S. and European allies over support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas and Iranian-backed groups.
In a statement, Mr. Biden expressed intentions to urge Mr. Netanyahu to focus on the return of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks and to work toward concluding the conflict with Hamas. He noted the opportunity for a political resolution in Gaza following Sinwar's death, stating that he was a major obstacle to achieving peace.
Originally scheduled for a week earlier, Mr. Biden’s trip was postponed due to Hurricane Milton in Florida. As a result, many ceremonial aspects of the visit were scaled back, including the omission of an official state luncheon.
Despite the changes, Mr. Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz remained committed to discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has persisted since Russia's invasion in February 2022. The U.S. and Germany are the largest contributors of military and financial aid to Ukraine, with both leaders emphasizing the need to avoid a direct conflict between NATO and a nuclear-armed Russia.
While both leaders face criticism for their responses to Ukraine’s requests for advanced military support, they argue that they have provided necessary weaponry when Ukraine is prepared to utilize it effectively. However, it remains unlikely that they will agree to allow Ukraine to use their systems to strike deep into Russian territory, despite President Volodymyr Zelensky's ongoing demands for such capabilities.