Joe Biden and his three main European allies affirmed Friday in Berlin “their determination” to help kyiv obtain a “just and lasting peace”, at a time when Ukrainian troops are struggling against Russian forces.
The US President, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledge to “continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, based on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, as well as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”, in a statement released in Berlin, where they met during a visit by Joe Biden.
At the same time, the latter called on NATO member states in the German capital to “not relax” their support for kyiv.
This call comes at a time when Western aid is showing signs of weakness and when the United States, in the event of Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election in November, could radically review its policy.
The Ukrainian army, for its part, is retreating on the eastern front and suffering incessant bombardments from Russian artillery, particularly on its essential infrastructure.
Another subject of great concern for Ukraine: according to South Korean intelligence services, North Korea sent a contingent of 1,500 special forces soldiers to support its Russian ally. And others should follow.
“This would be an extremely worrying and extremely serious new development,” responded the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It would above all reflect “the level of despair” of a “weakening Russia”, judged Keir Starmer in Berlin during a press conference.
– Caution on NATO –
The American president, whose plane left Germany late in the afternoon, was making a brief farewell visit to one of the United States’ most faithful allies in Europe in Berlin.
“We support Ukraine with all our strength,” assured Olaf Scholz. At the same time, he said he was ensuring that “NATO does not become a belligerent” in this war, “in order to prevent it from turning into an even greater catastrophe.”
None of the demands formulated so far by the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky in his “victory plan”, which he presented to the EU and NATO on Thursday, has for the moment met with unanimous support from the Allies.
This is particularly the case for its request for a rapid invitation to join NATO.
The meeting in the German capital of the four Western leaders followed a tribute by Germany to Joe Biden.
German head of state Frank-Walter Steinmeier hailed a “guide to democracy” who showed unwavering support for the Atlantic Alliance and Ukraine at “the most dangerous moment since the end of the Cold War” .
The American president was awarded the National Order of Merit for his contribution to transatlantic relations and the defense of democracy.
– Close ties –
After the tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021), the mandate of Joe Biden has allowed a clear warming of ties between Washington and Berlin, particularly on the Ukrainian issue where the two capitals have regularly aligned their decisions.
The 81-year-old Democrat, who withdrew from the presidential race, postponed his trip to Germany a week ago due to Hurricane Milton.
Besides Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East was the other hot topic of discussions between the four leaders.
Israel’s announcement Thursday evening of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar, killed during a military operation in the Gaza Strip, marks a turning point in the war triggered by the attack by this Palestinian movement against Israel, October 7, 2023.
The four Western officials judged that his disappearance underlined the “immediate necessity” for the release of Israeli hostages still in the hands of Hamas and for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip.
