US President Joe Biden's administration is set to announce more aid to Ukraine on Friday as it hosts German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US would provide another round of assistance for Kyiv, which will include “mostly ammunition and munitions that the Ukrainians will need for the systems that they already have”.
Mr Kirby said Mr Scholz's “tight, working-level” visit to Washington will tackle the leader's recent engagements with Ukrainian officials, the coming Nato summit and other global challenges including China.
The meeting between the allies comes just after the G20 conference in New Delhi, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken briefly met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and urged Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
Mr Biden and Mr Scholz first met each other in February 2022, just months after the Chancellor took office and right before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“This meeting really is a good opportunity for the two leaders a year in to take stock on the further deepening of our bilateral co-operation over the last year,” an NSC official told reporters on Thursday.
That first meeting, on the precipice of a war that would test the western alliance, “focused on sending a message of unity to deter Russian action against Ukraine”, Robin Quinville, director of the Global Europe Programme at the Wilson Centre in Washington, told The National.
Support for Ukraine on anniversary of Russia's invasion — in pictures
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Supporters hold a Ukrainian flag at a solidarity march to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Budapest, Hungary. Reuters -
A protest to mark the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Berlin. Reuters -
Supporters in front of Helsinki Cathedral during Light for Ukraine candlelight memorial event at Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland. Reuters -
Representatives stand for a moment of silence during the United Nations Security Council meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York. AFP -
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, with Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko, centre, his wife Inna and members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces outside 10 Downing Street in London, as they observe a minute's silence. AP -
The Portuguese Parliament is lit with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, in Lisbon AP -
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is lit with the Ukraine national flag colours. Getty Images -
Supporters carry Ukrainian flags during a demonstration in Bangkok. EPA -
Ukrainian volunteers take part in prayers and observe a minute of silence, in south-east England. Getty -
Protesters near the Russian embassy in Seoul, South Korea. EPA -
People lay flowers at a monument of Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure Taras Shevchenko, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. AFP -
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is lit up in the colours of Ukrainian flag. EPA -
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo speaks alongside the Ukrainian ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, during the event. AFP -
Watching video-mapping on the Czech Interior Ministry building, in Prague. EPA -
A woman expresses her solidarity with Ukraine at the Czech National Theatre, in Prague. EPA -
Activists place candles forming the peace sign in front of the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin. AP -
A police officer raises the Ukrainian flag in front of the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt in Magdeburg, Germany. AP -
A Vilnius University building is illuminated in blue and yellow in support of Ukraine, in Vilnius, Lithuania. AP -
Ukrainian flags placed over the graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers in a military cemetery in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. EPA -
A commemoration event with a light installation at the Field of Mars cemetery where hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are buried, in Lviv, western Ukraine. Getty -
Friends and relatives of fallen Ukrainian soldiers take part in a prayer as Rays of Memory illuminate the night sky over Lychakiv military cemetery in Lviv. EPA -
Rays of memory illuminate the sky over Lychakiv military cemetery in Lviv. EPA -
The National Opera of Ukraine building illuminated by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, in Kyiv. Getty -
A woman takes selfies in front of The National Opera of Ukraine, illuminated by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter. Getty -
A candlelit vigil in front of the Russian consulate, in New York. Reuters -
Candles lit outside the Russian consulate in New York during a vigil to commemorate children killed in Ukraine. AFP -
A silent candlelit vigil in New York. Reuters -
A Trafalgar Square vigil organised by the Ukrainian and US embassies in London. AP -
A vigil for Ukraine at Trafalgar Square in London. Reuters -
The Trafalgar Square vigil. Reuters -
Crowds gather at Trafalgar Square. AP -
The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, addresses the London vigil. Reuters -
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace speaks at the vigil. PA -
Actress and activist Helen Mirren addresses the London vigil. PA -
Teddy bears and other toys left by Ukrainian refugees and members of the Avaaz global activist network at Schuman Roundabout, in front of the European Commission, in Brussels. AP -
The EU Council and Commission buildings illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. EPA -
Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Andriy Pyshnyi holds banknotes marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion on Ukraine, in Kyiv. Reuters -
Supporters gather at St Mary's Cathedral Square during the 365 Days Strong rally and candlelight vigil in Sydney. Getty -
France's ambassador to Ukrain Etienne de Poncins, left, and the French Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak visit Independence Square in central Kyiv. AFP
“But Scholz was also under pressure, including on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the controversial energy link to Russia,” Mr Quinville said. “A year later, Scholz and Biden know each other better.”
Since that initial turbulence, Germany blocked Nord Stream 2, moving its energy sources away from Moscow.
Mr Scholz pledged to increase Berlin's defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP, required by Nato members, including his turnaround declaration of €100 billion in defence spending.
But Berlin has so far only committed about €30 billion of that amount, the government said last week.
Mr Quinville pointed to the “complex procurement requirements” for Berlin's Ministry of Defence and “issues with German readiness” for the slowed expenditure.
“It was no surprise Scholz changed defence ministers at the end of January,” he said.
“His new Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, recognises the need for internal reform his predecessor never grappled with.
“Scholz will be looking for validation, that Washington understands Germany’s need to move with, but not ahead of, its allies.”
Scholz, Macron and Draghi and Iohannis make first Kyiv visit — video
The NSC official declined questions over whether the Biden administration would support calls from other European countries for Germany to take a larger role in co-ordinating efforts on Ukraine, but added “we've had excellent co-ordination throughout this administration, with the Chancellor's governments”.
“The Chancellor's office, the two national security advisers are in regular contact as well as good communication between our foreign and defence ministries … particularly on these Ukraine-related issues,” the White House official added.
Mr Quinville predicts that Mr Biden will be “looking for the boldness” Mr Scholz demonstrated in his “Zeitenwende” speech to the German Parliament, and to “privately” push him for action and leadership with European partners.
“Publicly, he will show support for Germany’s contributions and support for Ukraine,” he said.
“The Biden administration is a firm supporter of transatlantic unity and will not want to undermine that in any way.”
