Joe Biden: Forbes Breaking News/YouTube
US President Joe Biden is travelling to Berlin on a mission to strengthen transatlantic ties that have been forged during the war in Ukraine and to discuss with European allies ways to counter the Russian aggressor. However, this visit, while aimed at celebrating Western solidarity, conceals uncertainty about the future: whether efforts to stop Russia will be enough, and whether support for Kyiv will continue after the US presidential election, Politico reports.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the transatlantic relationship has been stronger than ever. However, this solidarity could be threatened if Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed doubts about continued US support for Ukraine, wins the presidential election. His possible withdrawal from NATO and denial of financial and military assistance to Kyiv could lead to a crisis in US-European relations and leave Ukraine without a key ally.
Biden’s visit to Germany at this critical moment is more akin to a consultation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz than a holiday gathering. Scholz acknowledges the importance of cooperation with the US, but the threat of Trump’s return to the political arena is forcing Germany to look for new strategies. Moreover, even with the existing support from the US and Europe, the conflict in Ukraine remains frozen, and progress in the war is extremely slow.
Three years after the creation of a €100 billion special fund to strengthen Germany’s defence capabilities, progress remains minimal. Despite loud statements about helping Ukraine, Germany has failed to provide Kyiv with the necessary amount of weapons in time, allowing Russia to strengthen its positions.
This situation calls into question the strategy of “gradual strengthening” of Ukraine that Biden and Scholz have jointly chosen. While both leaders have done much to support Kyiv, it may not be enough to secure a final victory over Russia.
