Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden Holds a Bilateral Meeting With Olaf Scholz of Germany - March 3, 2023 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:06 ()

Well, Chancellor, welcome back to the Oval Office. Welcome back to the White House.

Joe Biden

00:00:06 - 00:00:30 ()

Olaf, we've -- there's been a lot changing since the last year you were here. Matter of fact, if I'm not mistaken, you were here in February of 2022, and Russia was amassing its troops -- 185,000 troops on the Ukrainian border. And we made it clear that if he moved, we would both respond. And together, we made good on that promise that --

Joe Biden

00:00:30 - 00:00:41 ()

And I want to thank you, Olaf, for your strong and steady leadership. And I mean that sincerely. It's made a world of difference. And together, we made good on our promise.

Joe Biden

00:00:41 - 00:00:54 ()

You've stepped up to provide critical military support. And, you know, I would argue that, beyond your military support, the moral support you gave to the Ukrainians has been profound. It's been profound.

Joe Biden

00:00:54 - 00:01:08 ()

And you've driven historic changes at home and, you know, increasing defense spending and diversifying away from Russian energy sources. I know that's not been easy. Been very difficult for you.

Joe Biden

00:01:08 - 00:01:23 ()

Together, we worked lockstep to supply critical security assistance to Ukraine. And -- from everything from -- we've done it in lockstep -- ammunition, artillery, armored tanks, air defense systems. And we've been together throughout this.

Joe Biden

00:01:23 - 00:01:38 ()

You helped Ukraine meet its basic needs, like food, health, heating. And you continue to give them -- put -- maintain the pressure on Putin. And it is undercutting his ability to fight this war.

Joe Biden

00:01:38 - 00:02:12 ()

And so, as NATO Allies, we're making the Alliance stronger and more capable. You've heard me say before that, when I talked to Putin a couple of months before that, I told him that he was more likely to get the -- not the -- the NATOization -- excuse me -- the [DEL: Findalization :DEL] [Finlandization] of Europe, which he was pushing for. More like he got the NATOization of Europe. And he's had that effect, in terms of what -- what's happened.

Joe Biden

00:02:12 - 00:02:19 ()

So, a lot has happened since last year. We got a lot to talk about, and I look forward to our conversation.

Olaf Scholz

00:02:19 - 00:02:49 ()

Thank you for having me again. And I really appreciate to be back at the White House. And let me just say this is a very, very important year because of the very dangerous threat to peace that comes from Russia invading Ukraine. And it's really important that we acted together, that we organized our lockstep, and that we made it feasible that we can give the necessary support to Ukraine during all this time.

Olaf Scholz

00:02:49 - 00:03:07 ()

And, at this time, I think it is very important that we give the message that we will continue to do so as long as it takes and as long as it is necessary, and that we are ready, also, for staying with the Ukrainians as it -- as long as it is necessary.

Olaf Scholz

00:03:07 - 00:03:23 ()

And I really appreciate the very good cooperation between the two of us, our governments, and the United States and Germany and Europe. And the transatlantic partnership is really in very good shape today. And this is very much thanks to your leadership.

Olaf Scholz

00:03:23 - 00:03:25 ()

So, I'm really happy to be here to talk with you.

Joe Biden

00:03:25 - 00:03:29 ()

We have a lot to talk about. Well, thank you.