Biden speaks with Germany's Scholz, discusses Russian buildup near
Ukraine
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[December 11, 2021]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President
Joe Biden spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday to
congratulate him on his appointment, and the two leaders discussed
issues including efforts to address Russia's military buildup near
Ukraine, the White House said.
"Today, I spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to congratulate him
on his appointment," Biden said in a Twitter post.
Biden "reaffirmed his support for robust U.S.-German relations and
desire to further strengthen transatlantic cooperation," the White House
said.
It said the two leaders discussed issues including "continued efforts to
end the COVID-19 pandemic, counter the threat of climate change, and
address Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine."
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Scholz, a Social Democrat, became Germany's chancellor on Wednesday,
ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel and launching
his three-way coalition that has pledged to boost green investment and
strengthen European integration.
Biden has said he made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin
during a two-hour virtual meeting on Tuesday that there would be
economic consequences like none before if Russia invaded Ukraine.
During the meeting, Putin demanded guarantees that NATO would not expand
farther eastward.
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![](../images/121121pics/news_m53.jpg)
President Joe Biden speaks at the start of a virtual summit with
leaders from democratic nations at the State Department's Summit for
Democracy, at the White House, in Washington, U.S. December 9, 2021.
REUTERS/Leah Millis
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Earlier on Friday, Scholz said he was "deeply concerned" about the
Russian troop buildup along the Ukrainian border and "that's why
it's important that Europe be firm in this area and show clearly
that Europe's borders are inviolable."
Preparations for punitive measures against the Russian economy were
discussed in a call between U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Friday.
Yellen "expressed her interest in partnering with Germany on
contingencies that could be rapidly deployed to impose severe costs
on Russia’s economy," the U.S. Treasury Department said.
(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Mark
Porter)
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