LONDON — President Biden met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday, making a brief stop in London ahead of a NATO summit, where leaders are expected to focus on supporting Ukraine against the conflict. Russian invasion.
Mr Biden arrived at 10 Downing Street on Monday morning, his first visit to the prime minister’s office as president, and was greeted by Mr Sunak with a warm handshake.
“We are honored and lucky to have you here,” Mr. Sunak said.
“It’s good to be back,” Biden said. Mr Biden and Mr Sunak have met six times in the past six months, but never at 10 Downing Street. The two met for more than 45 minutes in the courtyard of the building. “We are moving in a positive direction. But our relationship is very solid.”
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters on Air Force One Sunday that the two leaders will “talk about progress in the war in Ukraine, and of course, talk about a bunch of other things.” Another issue from China to climate. from technology to artificial intelligence.”
Both men are expected to attend the two-day summit of NATO leaders starting Tuesday in Vilnius, Lithuania. The United States and Britain are among Ukraine’s strongest supporters, but the two leaders had differences over the question of whether and how quickly Ukraine could join NATO.
Mr. Sunak speak last month that “Ukraine’s rightful place is within NATO,” although he did not call for Ukraine to be given a “roadmap” to membership in the transatlantic military alliance.
Mr. Biden was more hesitant, and in an interview that aired on Sunday, he made the most definitive statement to date that Ukraine is not ready to become a membersaid it was “too early” to begin the process of allowing Ukraine to join the alliance in the midst of a war.
The meeting also came after Mr. Biden made what he called the “very difficult decision” to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, a move that contrasts with some of America’s closest allies. Britain is one of the countries that have signed a convention banning the sale or use of such weapons, that is known to cause serious injury to civilians. Mr Sunak reiterated over the weekend that Britain “does not encourage” the use of these weapons.
Mr. Sullivan said this week that US allies do not oppose Mr. Biden’s decision and that Ukraine needs weapons to protect its citizens.
In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Biden said he doesn’t “think there’s consensus within NATO on whether to bring Ukraine into the NATO family right now,” and that the process is only possible. possible after a peace agreement with Russia is reached. was in the right place. Referring to the alliance’s commitment to mutual defense, Mr. Biden said: “If war is going on, then we are all at war.”
He added that there would be “other conditions that need to be met, including democratization,” for Ukraine to be considered for membership.
Then on Monday, Mr. Biden meets King Charles III at Windsor Castle, near London, where the two discussed clean energy investments and efforts to combat climate change in developing countries. People who are problems that Charles warned about in the 1970s and that Mr. Biden has been central to his presidency.
Mr. Biden did not attend Charles’ coronation in May, instead the first lady, Jill Biden, and their granddaughter Finnegan Go. In calling the king to offer condolences and congratulations, Charles invited the president to visit Britain, preparing for a meeting on Monday that American officials called a “small state visit.”
The logistics for Mr. Biden’s trip were not less dynamic. According to an official familiar with the plan, the White House initially questioned the need to stop at 10 Downing Street with Mr. Sunak, as the two would meet at a NATO summit a day later. However, for Mr. Sunak, a handshake with the president in front of his residence had political value, and the White House ultimately agreed to it.
Katie Rogers And mark the landing person contribution report.
