President Joe Biden thanks German chancellor for his nation's help in Ukraine

March 3 (UPI) -- At a White House meeting on Friday, President Joe Biden thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for Germany's "profound" help in countering Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The two leaders discussed a broad range of global security and economic issues related to the war, which recently entered its second year.

The diplomatic "working visit" came as Kyiv was planning a new offensive in the war and as Washington and Berlin considered more military and financial support for Ukraine to hold ground against Russia amid the one-year anniversary of the invasion.

Scholz said during Friday's meeting that it was important to continue to support Ukraine and project a message of western unity.

"At this time I think it's very important that we give the message that we will continue to do so as long as it takes," Scholz said.

Biden thanked the Chancellor for the military support Germany has provided to Ukraine. Germany recently provided Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks.

"You've stepped up to provide critical military support," Biden said. "And, you know, I would argue that, beyond your military support, the moral support you gave to the Ukrainians has been profound. It's been profound.

"You helped Ukraine meet its basic needs, like food, health, heating," the president said. "And you continue to give them -- put -- maintain the pressure on Putin. And it is undercutting his ability to fight this war."

And, Biden added, "As NATO Allies, we're making the alliance stronger and more capable."

Scholz agreed as he thanked Biden and said, "It's really important that we acted together, that we organized our lockstep, and that we made it feasible that we can give the necessary support to Ukraine during all this time."

And, he said: "At this time, I think it is very important that we give the message that we will continue to do so as long as it takes and as long as it is necessary."

Friday's visit by Scholz was his second trip to Washington since becoming chancellor in late 2021 following a previous meeting with Biden in the Oval Office a little more than one year ago.

Since then, the two leaders have crossed paths at several recent international summits, including the G7, NATO, and the G20, while also maintaining regular contact over the phone, the White House said.

In January, both NATO allies agreed to provide infantry fighting vehicles, tanks and other collateral to the war effort, while last month the White House announced a plan to send $2 billion in defense funds and equipment to Ukraine as part of a new security assistance package.

The White House also plans to ask Congress for $250 million in additional emergency energy assistance to help Ukraine maintain its power grid, and another $300 million in emergency aid to bring energy independence to Moldova, a bordering NATO ally.

Germany, which serves as home to the largest U.S. military outpost in Europe, is also providing increased air defense systems to Ukraine, including multiple rocket launch systems, Kirby said.

The United States has begun using its German bases as training stations for Ukrainian forces. Previously the chancellor had sought such policy changes due to the perilous security environment which has significantly increased Germany's defense budget over the past year.

Last month, Biden visited Kyiv and Warsaw, Poland, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reasserted the U.S. commitment to stand with Ukraine "for as long as it takes."

Scholz also met with Zelensky in Paris last month, meaning both leaders had fresh insights from Ukraine's seat of government at a critical time in the war and amid speculation that China was preparing to help Russia militarily, fanning further tensions with Washington in recent weeks.

Next Friday, President Biden will welcome Ursula von der Leyen, the chief of the European Commission weeks after the European Union imposed a 10th round of economic sanctions on Russia in the latest effort to punish Moscow for the continuing war.

The two will discuss additional support for Ukraine and a range of international security challenges faced by many countries throughout the region, as well as the climate crisis and other smaller matters.