Ukraine and China will be main subjects of Biden’s talks with Scholz

President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will focus on the war in Ukraine during talks tomorrow, but could also discuss concerns that China may provide military assistance to Russia, an administration official said. .
“The main focus of this meeting will be an opportunity for the two leaders to agree specifically on Ukraine,” a Reuters White House source said. “But I think it’s quite possible that a Chinese aspect will emerge in the context of discussions on Ukraine.”
So far, the United States has not seen evidence that China has provided lethal assistance to Russia, but is monitoring the situation closely, the source said.
Friday’s working meeting will give Biden and Scholz the opportunity to “exchange views” on their recent meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and their record of the war, which is in its second year, said The source.
Scholz, who last visited the White House shortly before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine , on Thursday urged China not to send weapons that could help Russia in the war in Ukraine and urged Beijing to pressure Moscow to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories. .
China denies any intention to arm Russia, while warning Western countries that supply arms to Ukraine that such support will not bring peace, but will add “fuel to the fire”.
Washington is consulting with its closest allies on the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Moscow in its aggression against Ukraine, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Officials said Washington has already taken action against third countries that support Russia’s war on Ukraine and will continue to do so.
“We are in diplomatic negotiations with our partners and we are already actively working on it and continuing to discuss,” the source said, declining to name specific countries.
On March 10, Joe Biden will receive the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the White House. Western support for Ukraine, relations with China and transatlantic trade tensions will be on the agenda, Agence France-Presse reported.
The leaders will consider “close cooperation” between the United States and the European Union to support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion, the White House said in a statement released Thursday.
In addition, the talks will address global security issues, “including our joint work to address challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China,” the White House added.