What's happened
On October 18, 2024, President Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin to discuss support for Ukraine amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The visit, likely his last to Europe as president, underscores the importance of transatlantic alliances as the U.S. approaches a pivotal election.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Biden emphasized the need for allies to ensure Ukraine prevails against Russian aggression, stating, "We must continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Ukraine prevails and Putin fails." Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post highlighted concerns about Trump's potential return to power, noting that his indifference towards Ukraine could jeopardize U.S. support. Scholz echoed this sentiment, asserting Germany's commitment to Ukraine while maintaining a cautious approach to NATO's involvement in the conflict. This reflects a broader tension between immediate military support and long-term strategic considerations.
How we got here
Biden's visit comes as Ukraine faces ongoing aggression from Russia, with the U.S. and Germany being key allies in providing military support. The backdrop of the Middle East conflict adds urgency to their discussions, reflecting broader geopolitical concerns.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Olaf Scholz is a German politician serving as Federal Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor under Chancellor Angela Merkel since 14 March 2018.
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.