German chancellor turned down Biden invite to discuss Ukraine crisis - Der Spiegel

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz turned down an invite at short notice from U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss the Ukraine crisis, German magazine Der Spiegel said on Friday.

Scholz did not accept the invitation due to a full schedule, including a trip to Madrid, as well as the desire to show that he was present as Germany grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Der Spiegel.

A government spokesman declined to comment on the report.

Both sides hoped now to organize a meeting by mid-February.

(Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, Editing by Miranda Murray)