US President Joe Biden is set to visit Germany on 18 October, rescheduling his trip originally planned for 12 October but postponed due to Hurricane Milton. Reuters and German publication Spiegel reported the new date, citing German government sources.
This visit comes at a crucial moment in the ongoing war in Ukraine, as Western allies grapple with sustaining long-term support for Kyiv’s defense efforts. The talks in Germany are expected to center on coordinating military aid, addressing Ukraine’s urgent needs for air defense systems and long-range weapons, and aligning strategies to counter Russian aggression.
While not a formal state visit, the visit will focus on ongoing joint work between the two countries. Biden is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with discussions expected to center on Russia’s war against Ukraine and the Middle East conflict.
The postponement earlier caused the cancellation of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting (Ramstein format), where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was to present a “victory plan” to partners. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had indicated plans to discuss the use of long-range weapons against military targets in Russia during this meeting. A new date for the Ramstein meeting is yet to be announced.
This trip marks the first visit by a US president to Germany in 40 years.
He was set to arrive in Germany on 12 October to lead the Ramstein meeting on aid to Ukraine, and Zelenskyy was expected to attend. However, Biden postponed the visit due to a hurricane in the US.
Read more:
- Ukraine’s key Ramstein defense talks on hold after Biden cancels Germany trip
- Biden postpones trip to Ramstein in Germany due to hurricane threat
- Biden to lead a Ramstein-format meeting on 12 October in Germany
