BERLIN – President Joe Biden, seen with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and hailing the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “moment of justice,” returns to the United States a day after meetings in Berlin.
“He had the blood of Americans, Israelis, Palestinians and Germans on his hands, and many others,” Biden said in a joint press release with Scholz.
Biden plans to send Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Israel early next week to discuss Gaza security, the release of hostages and the future of the Palestinian people. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Air Force One on his way to Berlin. “Let’s use this moment as an opportunity to seek a path to peace, to a better future in Gaza without Hamas,” he told Netanyahu during his remarks on Friday.
Scholz said it was more important than ever to prevent tensions in the region, adding that with Sinwar’s death, “hopefully we now see a real prospect of a cease-fire in Gaza.”
The two leaders also met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss another key focus of the four countries’ support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Earlier this week, Biden announced more than $400 million in a new round of aid to Ukraine. He welcomed Germany’s commitment to Ukraine and acknowledged that it is the second largest aid provider after the United States. Discussions include increasing resources for Ukraine’s military and strengthening its energy infrastructure.
“I know the costs are heavy. Make no mistake about it, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in a world where aggression reigns, big powers attack and bully small states, just because they can,” Biden said.
The president did not want his administration to end without making this trip to Berlin, in part to thank Scholz for helping to free prisoners illegally held in Russia.
“I greatly appreciate your partnership and your refusal to make the easy choice to make the right choice,” Biden told Scholz.
After much persuasion from the United States, Scholz agreed to free a Russian assassin serving a life sentence for murder in Germany, resulting in a swap this summer for 24 prisoners from seven countries, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and a former U.S. Marine. Paul Whelan.
The 20-hour trip to Berlin was likely Biden’s last visit to Europe as president. He was celebrated as a noble statesman.
Moments after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised him and presented Biden with his country’s highest award, Biden said softly: “I was very surprised.”
In a short ceremony, Steinmeier awarded Biden the Grand Cross special degree. “You, Mr. President, have been a beacon of democracy,” Steinmeier told an audience of dignitaries at the presidential palace in Berlin.
During all his speeches, Steinmeier praised Biden’s commitment to democratic values and talked about German and American bonds. He said the two had worked together to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, and that Biden had played a leading role in strengthening the NATO alliance during his tenure.
Before Steinmeier pinned a medal on Biden’s jacket for “decades of dedication to the transatlantic alliance and outstanding political leadership,” Steinmeier offered to pay him a personal tribute.
“The most gratifying and comforting thing for people is to know that even the most powerful man in the world is, in the end, a fundamentally decent person,” he said.
Biden accepted the honor, speaking of the power of democracy and the value of alliances and praising German leaders for their support of Ukraine. Biden, recognizing the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall next month, said witnessing the fall of the Wall and the reunification of Germany was “one of the greatest advances in human dignity in my lifetime.”
He also called on the NATO alliance to continue to stand with Ukraine. “We cannot refuse. We must continue our support. In my opinion, we must continue until Ukraine wins a just and lasting peace,” continued Biden, “until human dignity wins again.”