Biden and allies in Berlin vow no let-up in support for Ukraine

“We’re headed into a very difficult winter. We cannot let up,” Biden said.
In another worrying development for Ukraine, North Korea has decided to send a “large-scale” troop deployment to support Moscow’s war, according to Seoul’s spy agency. It said 1,500 special forces were already in eastern Russia undergoing training.
On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his “victory plan” to the European Union and NATO, but his allies have not agreed to his request for immediate NATO membership.
Washington and London have also rejected Ukrainian requests for clearance to use donated long-range weapons against targets inside Russia. Berlin has also refused to send its own long-range Taurus missile system.
“We are supporting Ukraine as powerfully as we can,” Scholz said. “And at the same time we are making sure that NATO does not become a party to the war, so that this war does not turn into an even bigger catastrophe.”
The United States has been by far the biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in 2022. Germany is the next biggest military backer.
Paris and London were among foreign capitals to voice concern Friday over the report of North Korean troops readying to back the Russian war effort.
“The increase in cross-cooperation and military support from North Korea to the Russian war effort in Ukraine is very worrying,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said.
Speaking at the British embassy in Berlin, Starmer said about the North Korea troops’ report that “if this is true then to me it looks more an act of desperation than anything else”.
Biden earlier received a red-carpet welcome from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who awarded him Germany’s highest honour for championing bilateral and transatlantic ties.
The German head of state honoured 81-year-old Biden as “a beacon of democracy” who had shown unwavering support for NATO and Ukraine “in our most dangerous moment since the Cold War”.
Biden’s visit came as the US presidential race heats up ahead of the Nov 5 election and allies are nervously eyeing a possible Trump victory over Kamala Harris.
Trump, who berated NATO allies when president, has opposed the level of US military support for Ukraine and would be expected to soften US criticism of Israel in its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.