Biden Holds First Call with German Chancellor Scholz... Discusses Cooperation on Ukraine Issue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] On the 10th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Olaf Scholz, the newly inaugurated German Chancellor, to discuss cooperation measures regarding issues such as the possibility of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This was the first time President Biden had a phone call with Chancellor Scholz. Chancellor Scholz also participated in the virtual Democracy Summit held on the 9th and 10th, hosted by President Biden.

President Biden announced the call with Chancellor Scholz on Twitter, stating, "I look forward to closely cooperating on global challenges, including efforts to address Russia's military buildup on the Ukraine border that destabilizes the situation."

The White House also released a statement saying, "The two leaders discussed cooperation on a series of global challenges, including efforts to end the pandemic, respond to climate change, and address Russia's military tensions surrounding Ukraine." It added, "President Biden reaffirmed his support for the strong bilateral relationship and his desire to strengthen future cooperation."

In a recent virtual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Biden expressed concern about the possibility of an invasion of Ukraine and warned that unprecedented economic sanctions would be imposed if an invasion were to occur. In particular, President Biden pressured Russia by stating that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany could face suspension.

At a press conference held with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Chancellor Scholz said, "We are deeply concerned about the (Russian) troops we see along the Ukraine border." He stated that it is clear the EU and other countries would respond if Russia invades, and that dialogue to prevent such an outcome is also important. However, he did not answer questions related to Nord Stream 2, which could have a tremendous impact on the German economy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.