Biden makes quick trip to Berlin before US election to discuss Ukraine, democracy with allies

BERLIN:President Joe Biden has long believed diplomacy is about personal relationships and he ll spend Friday in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf...

BERLIN: President Joe Biden has long believed diplomacy is about personal relationships - and he'll spend Friday in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as his time in office is on the cusp of ending.

There is also a meeting with other leaders in the "European Quad,” a group that in addition to Biden and Scholz includes French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described Biden as having a "close relationship” with Scholz, who early this year helped broker a multicountry prisoner swap that brought back to the United States the journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. The German leader told Biden before the deal in words to the effect, "For you, I will do this."

"He wanted to thank the chancellor for his partnership, for his leadership, as well as with Ukraine,” Jean-Pierre told reporters accompanying Biden on Thursday's Air Force One flight to Berlin. "He wanted to thank him and so that's what you're seeing on this trip.”

The whirlwind trip - Biden departed early Thursday and is due back in the U.S. on Friday night - is hardly a social visit.