Russia and Ukraine will dominate the agenda for President Joe Biden’s first White House meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz amid German unease with the deteriorating situation.
A senior Biden administration official defended Germany’s diplomacy and deterrence role regarding Russia, despite criticism the country has been more measured toward the threat compared to its NATO allies.
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“Germany, after the United States, is the second-largest donor to Ukraine and to Europe,” the official said. “Second, Germany has been very supportive of the things that the United States has done militarily. Most recently, as we announced last week, supporting our ability to move a battalion from Germany into Romania.”
But, breaking from the united front, the senior administration official insisted the U.S. would not yield on one area of disagreement: the construction of a gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
“If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,” the official said. “The pipeline is not currently operational, and no gas is expected to flow through that pipeline anytime soon.”
Monday’s conversation will be Scholz’s first with Biden in Washington since succeeding former German Chancellor Angela Merkel last December. Biden and Scholz last spoke in person during the 2021 G-20 summit in Rome, when Scholz was still the finance minister.
The pair are also anticipated to talk about possible collaborations during Germany’s G-7 presidency on issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, economic prosperity, and international security based on democratic values.
“In addition, I expect the leaders will want to discuss their support for the Western Balkans,” the official said. “As well as our collective response to undemocratic moves by China.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised French President Emmanuel Macron last week as a “quality interlocutor” before the two leaders met this week. Macron has called for a more conciliatory approach to Russia as U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned last weekend that the Kremlin may not wait until after the Beijing Winter Olympics to cross the border with Ukraine.
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“We are in the window. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine,” he said in an interview.
