Biden to host European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the White House

March 10 (UPI) — President Joe Biden will host European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the White House on Friday.

The leaders plan to reaffirm their cooperation to support Ukraine as conflict approaches its 13th month, and to discuss new clean energy strategies in hopes of turning the tide in the global climate crisis. The White House announced.

Biden and von der Leyen are also expected to report on the progress of the joint European Energy Security Task Force, which was set up a year ago to reduce the region’s dependence on Russian oil.

Other agenda items include addressing supply chain issues across the European Union, accelerating the use of clean energy resources in the region, and addressing international security concerns in light of recent tensions between the US and China.

In recent months, there has been at least one sign of tension among the allies over the expansion of clean energy.

In January, von der Leyen called on the EU to develop policies that would rival the Biden Inflation Reduction Act, saying the 27-country bloc needed a comprehensive zero-income program. subsidy package To counter huge green energy spending in Washington, she said, which gave the United States an unfair competitive advantage on an uneven global playing field.

Von der Leyen also said late last year that a “buy American” approach and tax breaks could “lead to discrimination” against European companies, while EU members criticized Biden’s policies for diverting business from Europe and potentially to a trade war.

As for Ukraine, in February the EU completed the 10th round of $11 billion sanctions against Russia, which were timed to coincide with the anniversary of the invasion. On the same day, the Biden administration took a symbolic step and announced a plan to send $2 billion worth of defense assets and equipment to Ukraine as part of a new security assistance package.

The White House said it would ask Congress for an additional $250 million in emergency aid to help Ukraine maintain its energy grid and another $300 million in emergency aid to ensure Moldova’s energy independence.

The EU sanctions targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to acquire foreign weapons components and equipment to add to his depleted arsenal.

Earlier, von der Leyen expressed readiness to increase pressure on Russia in the coming weeks, but in recent days the war has only intensified.

“Russia will also have to pay for the destruction it has caused and contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine,” she said at the February meeting of the European Commission.

Last month, Biden also visited Kyiv and Warsaw, Poland, where he reaffirmed the United States’ readiness to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

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