Biden: US, Germany working in ‘lockstep’ to counter Russian aggression

President Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Monday afternoon and declared that the U.S. and Germany are working in “lockstep” to counter Russian aggression toward Ukraine.

“Germany is one of America’s closest allies,” Biden said in remarks at the beginning of the meeting with Scholz. “We’re working in lockstep to further deter Russian aggression in Europe and to address the challenges posed by China and to promote stability in the Western Balkans.”

Biden also said the two would discuss other issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. 

“There will be a lot to talk about,” he said. 

Scholz offered brief remarks, describing the U.S. and Germany as “closest allies” and underscoring the need to discuss responding to Russia’s aggression against its neighbor.

“This is necessary for doing the steps that we have to do to for instance fighting against Russian aggression against Ukraine,” Scholz said.

The United States is trying to demonstrate a united front with allies in plans to push back against any effort by Russia to further invade Ukraine. The U.S. is preparing harsh economic sanctions that officials say would be triggered by a renewed Russian invasion. Last week, Biden also authorized the deployment of 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe to provide additional support to NATO allies, including Germany.

Biden and Scholz are expected to discuss Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline between Russia and Germany that U.S. officials have said is leverage if Russia chooses to launch an incursion into Ukraine.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated Sunday that the pipeline would not move forward in the event of a Russian invasion.

But Germany has faced questions about its willingness to go along with harsher economic measures in response to any Russian invasion. 

Germany has blocked arms exports to Ukraine and tiptoed around questions about whether it would not allow gas to flow through Nord Stream 2 in the event of a renewed invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview with The Washington Post ahead of the meeting, Scholz would not definitively commit to halting Nord Stream 2 but insisted that a response to a Russian invasion from the West would be “united and decisive.” 

“We are ready to take together with our allies all necessary steps,” he said in the interview, which was published Sunday night. 

Sullivan said Sunday on ABC that a Russian invasion could come “at any time.” The White House says that it still has not assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made up his mind on invading Ukraine, however.  

“We’re pursuing a two-track approach, which includes deterrence and diplomacy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday afternoon. “We don’t have a new assessment of his decision and where he stands on it.” 

Monday’s visit was Scholz’s first to Washington since taking over for Angela Merkel at the end of last year. 

“It’s good to have a chance to get to know you more personally,” Biden said at the top of the meeting.