Germany's Scholz urges more Ukraine aid ahead of White House meeting

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urgently called for greater military aid to Ukraine and warned of the dire consequences of a Russian victory, just before departing for Washington on Thursday to meet US President Joe Biden and congressional leaders.

In a guest column in the Wall Street Journal newspaper, Scholz warned Ukraine's allies against reducing military support for the embattled country, which has been fighting against a full-scale Russian invasion for nearly two years.

Scholz reiterated that message in Berlin, saying that Ukraine's supporters must send a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin - and other aggressive leaders elsewhere in the world.

"Our message is clear: We have to do our utmost to prevent Russia from winning. If we don’t, we might soon wake up in a world even more unstable, threatening and unpredictable than it was during the Cold War," Scholz wrote in the US newspaper.

"Despite our support, Ukraine could soon face serious shortages in arms and ammunition. Some financial commitments have already run out, and others need to be extended. The long-term consequences and costs of failing to stop Putin's aggression would dwarf any of the investments that we are making now."

The trip to Washington is Scholz's third since taking office just over two years ago. He is scheduled to meet with Biden at the White House on Friday to discuss military aid for Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and the NATO summit this summer.

Scholz's visit to Washington comes as US Republican lawmakers in Congress are blocking further US aid for Ukraine. Scholz has likewise struggled to convince some European Union partners to increase their aid.

Previously approved US aid for Ukraine expired at the end of last year, leaving Ukraine's military to cope with dwindling support from the country's most important ally.

The German leader also plans to meet with members of the US Congress in Washington, and also breakfast with US business leaders on Friday morning.

"Now is the moment when we have to do what is now necessary, namely to jointly give Ukraine the opportunity to defend itself and at the same time send a very clear signal to the Russian president," Scholz said on Thursday in Berlin before departing.

Scholz praised Ukrainian troops for doing everything possible to defend the country, but added that they must have additional support from allies in order to keep up the fight.

He said that Germany has "made a very large contribution" in its upcoming 2024 budget "but it will not be enough on its own if there is not enough support everywhere."

Scholz said now is also the time to discuss strengthening the NATO alliance. He said that Germany, which for decades has fallen short of military spending goals, is "now at the forefront" of trying to rebuild defence capabilities.

In his column in the Wall Street Journal, Scholz warned that failure to adequately support Ukraine could have dire global consequences for Western democracies.

"Make no mistake: A Russian victory in Ukraine would not only be the end of Ukraine as a free, democratic and independent state, it would also dramatically change the face of Europe," Scholz wrote.

"It would deal a severe blow to the liberal world order. Russia's brutal attempt to steal territory by force could serve as a blueprint for other authoritarian leaders around the globe."

Scholz's journey to the US will be interrupted by a refuelling stop in Iceland, as Germany's only functioning long-distance government plane is currently with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Mongolia.

Scholz instead is flying with an older German Air Force Airbus A321, which has a shorter range.

Biden looks almost certain to face former president Donald Trump in elections this fall. Trump has campaigned against aid for Ukraine and also expressed scepticism about the US commitment to NATO defence in Europe, which has caused alarm in many European capitals.