BERLIN — President Joe Biden is on his way back to the United States after a day of meetings in Berlin, where he will appear alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and mark the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “moment of justice.”
“He had the blood of Americans and Israelis, Palestinians and Germans and so many others on his hands,” Biden said during joint press statements with Scholz.
Biden plans to send Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel early next week to discuss Gaza security, hostage recovery and the future of the Palestinian people. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Air Force One en route to Berlin. During his remarks Friday, he said he told Netanyahu: “Let us also take this moment as an opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas.”
Scholz said it is more important than ever to prevent an escalation in the region, adding that with Sinwar’s death “we now hopefully see a tangible prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza.”
The two leaders also met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss another major focus of the four countries, namely supporting 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 involvement in Ukraine and acknowledged that the country is the second largest aid provider after the United States. The discussions would include increasing resources for the Ukrainian military and strengthening energy infrastructure.
“I know the costs are high. Make no mistake, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in a world where aggression prevails, where big states attack and bully smaller states simply 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 his help in securing the release of wrongfully held prisoners in Russia.
“I deeply appreciate your partnership and the many times you gave up an easy choice to make the right choice,” Biden told Scholz.
After much urging from the U.S., Scholz agreed to release a Russian assassin serving a life sentence for murder in Germany, in a deal that ultimately led to the exchange of 24 prisoners from seven countries this summer, including Wall Street Journal- reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul. Whelan.
This twenty-hour trip to Berlin was likely Biden’s last visit to Europe as president. He was celebrated as a noble statesman.
“I am overwhelmed,” Biden said softly, moments after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier showered him with praise and awarded Biden his country’s highest honor, the special class Grand Cross.
“You, Mr. President, have been a beacon of democracy,” Steinmeier said before an audience of dignitaries at Berlin’s presidential palace.
Steinmeier praised Biden’s commitment to democratic values and spoke about German and US bonds. He said both have worked together in support of Ukraine and credited Biden with playing a leading role in strengthening the NATO alliance during his time in office.
Before pinning a medal on Biden’s jacket for what Steinmeier called “decades of dedication to the transatlantic alliance and outstanding political leadership,” Steinmeier offered a personal assessment of Biden.
“The most joyful and reassuring thing for people is to know that even this most powerful man in the world,” Steinmeier said, “is ultimately a fundamentally decent human being.”
Biden accepted the honor by speaking about the power of democracy and the value of alliances, praising German leaders for their support of Ukraine. Biden acknowledged the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall next month, saying witnessing it and Germany’s reunification was “one of the greatest advances in human dignity in my lifetime.”
He also encouraged the NATO alliance to continue to stand by Ukraine’s side. “We can’t let it go. We must maintain our support. In my view, we must continue until Ukraine achieves a just and lasting peace,” Biden continued, “until human dignity once again prevails.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
