Biden, Germany’s Scholz to fulfill at White Home on Feb. 9 By Reuters

By David Shepardson and Maria Martinez

WASHINGTON/BERLIN (Reuters) – President Joe Biden will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on Feb. 9 in a bid to rally assist for extra help for Ukraine, the White Home mentioned on Saturday.

The 2 leaders will use their White Home assembly to reaffirm their robust assist for Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, the White Home mentioned in a press release.

Biden and Scholz will talk about efforts to forestall regional escalation within the Center East, their steadfast assist for Israel’s proper to self-defence, and the crucial of accelerating humanitarian help and safety of civilians from hurt in Gaza.

The assembly is about as bipartisan U.S. Senate talks on a border safety deal that some Republicans set as a situation for additional Ukraine assist have hit a important level.

Biden mentioned on Friday that the Senate border deal being negotiated was the “hardest and fairest” set of reforms potential and vowed to “shut down the border” the day he indicators the invoice.

Biden has requested $61.4 billion in further funding to assist provide Ukraine with weapons and replenish U.S. shares because it nears the two-year mark of its battle with Russia. The funds looked for Ukraine are a part of a “supplemental” request that additionally contains $14.3 billion for Israel and $13.6 billion for border safety.

Scholz mentioned this month nearly all of nations within the European Union weren’t delivering adequate weapons to Ukraine to assist it battle Russia, urging allies to extend efforts.

Germany agreed late final yr to double the nation’s army assist for Ukraine in 2024 to eight billion euros ($8.7 billion), and on Tuesday mentioned it could ship six “Sea King” helicopters to Ukraine from its army stock this yr.

Kyiv and the West say Russia’s 2022 invasion was an unprovoked battle of aggression and a land seize, whereas Russian President Vladimir Putin says the 2022 invasion was needed to guard Russia’s personal safety.

The press workplace of the German authorities declined to remark.