Germany: Biden in Berlin for Ukraine, Middle East talks

US President Joe Biden made a final trip to Europe before leaving office. On a scaled-back itinerary in Berlin, he met with key European allies for talks on Ukraine and the Middle East.

US President Joe Biden arrived in Berlin on Thursday night and was received by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace in Berlin Friday morning. 

Biden received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany's highest honor reserved for heads of state. 

Joe Biden's trip comes at a potentially crucial juncture in the war in Ukraine — in no small part because of the elections in the US on November 5 — and immediately after news of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. 

Later Friday, Biden met Chancellor Olaf Scholz for talks at the Chancellery.

He also met French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for four-way talks on issues including Ukraine and the Middle East.