Biden accuses Congress of "dereliction" on Ukraine, meets with Chancellor Scholz

(Patria) - United States President Joe Biden said Congress would be guilty of "almost
criminal dereliction" if it fails to approve funds for Ukraine and thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday for his leadership in securing German military aid to Kyiv, Reuters reported.

Scholz, who came to Washington to support Biden’s efforts to secure funds for Ukraine, met with the president at the White House to discuss Russia’s war with its smaller neighbor, as well as the crisis in the Middle East.

Addressing reporters before the meeting, Scholz said he was encouraged by the U.S. Senate’s move on Thursday to advance a $95.34 billion bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after Republicans blocked a compromise bill that included immigration policy reforms.

"The failure of the United States Congress, if it occurs, to support Ukraine is almost criminal dereliction. It’s outrageous," Biden said in the Oval Office.

"I am very happy that we in Europe have now made decisions to get the necessary financial support for the budget," Scholz said. "Also, Germany has been prepared to increase its support by delivering weapons." He added: "we hope that Congress, the House, will follow you and make the decision to provide the necessary support."

Scholz met with U.S. business executives to discuss investment opportunities in Germany before joining Biden at the White House.

Germany has recently made a decisive contribution to supporting Ukraine in repelling Russia’s full-scale invasion, he said.

"Now the same must happen in the rest of Europe, and also in the United States," he said, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on support for Ukraine to wane. He said his meeting with bipartisan U.S. senators on Thursday evening convinced him that foreign policy and security experts in the U.S. Congress understand the need for continued support for Ukraine.