Obama to plot Russia strategy with German Chancellor Merkel

President Obama will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House on Feb. 9, as the U.S. and Europe search for ways to ratchet up pressure on Russia over continuing violence in Ukraine.

{mosads}“The two leaders will discuss a range of issues including Ukraine, Russia, counterterrorism, [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], Afghanistan, and Iran,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. “They will also cover economic growth, international trade, climate change and Germany’s plans for hosting the G-7 Summit in June.”

The meeting comes just days before European leaders are expected to extend and expand sanctions against Moscow after intensified fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Late last month, dozens of people were killed in an attack on the port of Mariupol, in the latest violation of a fragile five-month ceasefire agreement.

The U.S. is widely expected to match those additional sanctions against Russia.

“As Russia continues to refuse to live up to previous commitments that they have made to de-escalate this conflict, those costs are only going to intensify,” Earnest said last week. “And we’re hopeful that as these costs mount, that it will prompt the president, President Putin, to re-evaluate his strategy.”

Obama and Merkel plan to meet together in the Oval Office and then share a working lunch. Earnest did not say whether the two would hold a joint press conference, as is customary during visits from the leaders of top allies.

The pair did hold a joint press conference during Merkel’s visit in May, which came shortly after revelations by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden that the U.S. had spied on Merkel’s cellphone. The German leader expressed outrage over the incident and said at the time there were “a few difficulties yet to overcome” in repairing the relationship.