Biden kicks off talks with Denmark, U.K. focusing on Ukraine war
Global News
The Oval Office visit kicked off the first of a pair of critical meetings Biden is holding with European allies this week that will focus heavily on what lies ahead for Ukraine.
President Joe Biden thanked Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday for Denmark‘s role in a Western alliance “standing up” for Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia‘s 15-month-old invasion.
The Oval Office visit kicked off the first of a pair of critical meetings Biden is holding with European allies this week that will focus heavily on what lies ahead in the war in Ukraine —including the recently-launched effort to train, and eventually equip, Ukraine with American-made F-16s fighter jets. Biden on Thursday will meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Both Britain and Denmark are playing a pivotal role in the nascent joint international plan that Biden recently endorsed after months of resisting calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for U.S. aircraft.
“There’s a shared commitment to the core values and that gives us our strength — at least that’s what I believe,” Biden said. “Together we’re working to protect those values — including standing up for the people of Ukraine against the brutal aggression of the Russians.”
Biden’s separate meetings with the leaders of two key NATO allies come at a crucial period in the 15-month war as Ukraine readies to launch a counteroffensive. It’s also a moment when the U.S. and Europe are looking to demonstrate to Moscow that the Western-alliance remains strong and focused on cementing a longer-term commitment to Ukraine with no end to the conflict in sight.
Neither mentioned the F-16 agreement in their brief remarks before reporters at the start of the meeting, but White House officials said that coordination on training Ukraine on modern aircraft would be a central part of the talks.
Frederiksen for her part thanked Biden for leading the transatlantic alliance.
“I am looking forward to working even closer with you on defense and security,” she said.
An offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv’s control would end “the hot stage of the war” in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a broadcast interview.