Biden, in Germany, Urges Unwavering Support for Ukraine

The president also joined Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany in expressing new optimism about the prospect for peace in the Middle East.

Sidelined at home in the waning days of the campaign to succeed him, President Biden made a brief return to the global spotlight on Friday, rallying allies in support of Ukraine, and basking in praise from the German government.

Mr. Biden made a dash to Berlin that lasted barely a day, in a hastily rescheduled trip that was scuttled last week by Hurricane Milton.

The visit was focused on the war in Ukraine and a renewed push for a cease-fire in Gaza. It placed Mr. Biden in the starring role, championing western resolve against Russia in what he warned would be a “very difficult winter” for Ukraine, while calling Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar “an opportunity to seek a path to peace” in the Middle East.

“We should never underestimate the power of democracy, never underestimate the value of alliances,” Mr. Biden said, after a ceremony at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin at which he received Germany’s highest honor. “Germany has taught us all that change is possible, and for better or for worse, countries can and do choose their own destinies.”

Mr. Biden did not announce any shifts in Ukraine or Middle East policy, either after his meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany or after a larger meeting that included French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

American and German officials expressed optimism that Mr. Sinwar’s death could reinvigorate moribund talks about a cease-fire that Mr. Biden has long sought but not yet achieved, though they offered no hints of progress on that front Friday.

John Kirby, the national security spokesman for the White House, told reporters in Berlin that Mr. Sinwar had been the chief obstacle to peace in Gaza, saying that “each and every time, Sinwar found a way to stop it. Now he’s gone, so we’ll see.”

But Mr. Kirby tempered the optimism by adding that there were no indications that other potential Hamas leaders would soften Mr. Sinwar’s hard diplomatic line. He said “we’re not in a position right now where serious negotiations are in the offing.”

Still, the trip — and the celebratory focus by a close ally on Mr. Biden’s foreign policy achievements — offered a contrast to the presidential contest Mr. Biden left back home.

American presidents do not tend to leave the country in October of election years. But since he abandoned his re-election bid in July, making way for Vice President Kamala Harris to oppose former President Donald J. Trump, Mr. Biden has often slipped out of the headlines. Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump have sparred more on domestic topics, like the economy and immigration, than foreign policy.

The possibility of Mr. Trump’s return to power has long been a subject of deep concern among Mr. Biden’s European counterparts, who repeatedly clashed with the former president over his America First vision, which they viewed as a destructive isolationism.

Mr. Biden has said that his assurances to foreign leaders that “America is back” has been met with the response: “But for how long?” — an indication of the concern about Mr. Trump’s potential return to the White House.

Mr. Kirby said on Friday that those concerns were not a primary focus of the conversation between Mr. Biden and Mr. Scholz. But with the American election just weeks away, European leaders are keenly aware that the clock may be ticking on Mr. Biden’s view of international cooperation.

“Decency is maybe what we are most at risk of losing,” said President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, in a reference that did not mention Mr. Trump but appeared to allude to him. “But your decency, sir, is a light that shines very far.”

When Mr. Biden originally planned Friday’s trip to Germany, the purpose seemed clear. Washington and Berlin would showcase their cooperation, particularly on helping Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression.

But Mr. Sinwar’s death overshadowed the Ukraine discussions among the four leaders on Friday, even as it raised their hopes for a cease-fire.

As a result, Mr. Biden and the European leaders spent Friday afternoon in discussions that touched on the rapidly escalating situation in the Middle East, which has produced disagreements between the United States and its European allies about how strongly to back Israel in its war against Hamas and other Iranian-backed groups in the region.

In his appearance with Mr. Scholz on Friday, Mr. Biden called the death of Mr. Sinwar “a moment of justice” but also “an opportunity to seek a path to peace — a better future in Gaza without Hamas.”

Mr. Scholz said that in light of Mr. Sinwar’s death, “We hopefully now see a tangible prospect of a cease-fire in Gaza, an agreement that hopefully leads to the release of hostages held by Hamas.”

Mr. Biden’s European colleagues lauded him for his attempts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.

“We always supported your efforts in this conflict, and we will continue to do so,” Mr. Scholz told Mr. Biden in a joint appearance on Friday afternoon. Mr. Biden’s visit, he added, “is a strong signal of our trans-Atlantic unity and of our friendship.”

Mr. Biden also used the moment, in what might be his final trip to Europe as president, to urge Germany and other Western allies not to waver in their support for Ukraine.

“German leaders had the wisdom to recognize a turning point in history, an assault on a fellow democracy and also on principles that upheld 75 years of peace and security in Europe,” Mr. Biden said He added that the allies must continue to work tirelessly to “ensure that Ukraine prevails and Putin fails and NATO remains strong and more united than ever.”

“We’re headed into a very difficult winter,” he added. “We cannot let up. We cannot.”

In his last months in office, Mr. Biden wanted to thank Mr. Scholz for his support for Ukraine, with Berlin the second-largest contributor in money and weapons to Kyiv, after the United States.

Both men also share a concern that Western military efforts for Ukraine do not result in a direct war between NATO and a nuclear-armed Russia. Both have been criticized by Ukraine and some of its staunchest backers for being too slow to respond to Kyiv’s needs — for advanced tanks, air defenses, modern fighter jets and long-range missiles, among other requests.

The two leaders have argued that they have provided weaponry that Ukraine needs when it is ready to use it effectively.

But it is highly unlikely that either Mr. Biden or Mr. Scholz will suddenly agree to let Ukraine use their weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to demand.

When Mr. Biden’s visit to Germany was delayed by Hurricane Milton to allow the president to remain in Washington, much of the pomp and pageantry of the original trip was scrapped, including an official state luncheon. But Mr. Biden did receive Germany’s grand cross special class of the order of merit, which is only awarded to heads of state.

Steven Erlanger contributed reporting.

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

• Unwavering Support: President Biden on Friday urged Germany and other Western allies not to waver in their support for Ukraine, using what may be his final trip to Europe as president to bolster the grueling fight against Russia’s invasion.
• Trump Blames Zelensky: Former President Donald Trump blamed President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine for Russia’s invasion of his country in a podcast interview, inverting the facts of the largest military action in Europe since the Second World War.
• They Came for the Music: Men who attended the Kyiv concert of a popular rock band had their papers checked on the way out. Some were detained. Tickets to subsequent shows suddenly became available.

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