Von der Leyen, Biden discussed Ukraine 'extensively'
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Some see this step as trade tensions thawing between the two.
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US President Joe Biden meets with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 10, 2023 (Reuters)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had an extensive discussion regarding Ukraine at a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.
"We have extensively discussed that [the Ukraine war], starting with the financial budget support that the European Union is giving 18 billion [euros] during this year, one and a half billion [euros] per month to Ukraine, but also discussing the way we are caring for four million refugees from Ukraine in the European Union," von der Leyen told reporters following her meeting with Biden.
Read next: WaPo: support for Ukrainian refugees in Europe is declining
The EU was accused by the Washington Post in October of lagging on its commitments to provide Ukrainian refugees with appropriate accommodation, jobs, and schooling for their children.
About 3 million Ukrainians returned to Ukraine, either because it seemed safe enough or because life as a refugee was just too much to bear, the report added.
The newspaper concluded by warning that while the war continues and its cascading effects are hitting across the continent, the transition from temporary relief to long-term support puts the commitments of the European Union bloc to the test.
Since the beginning of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the EU sought to contain Russia through the imposition of various sanctionary and punitive mechanisms.
But due to the EU's overreliance on Russian gas, anti-Russian sanctions have caused more damage to EU citizens than they did to Russia, and as EU governments struggle to find alternatives to Russian oil, the masses are taking to the streets to voice their opposition to the war in Ukraine.
However, von der Leyen thanked Biden for "tremendously" helping the European Union by delivering more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to decrease the bloc’s dependency on Russian gas, a White House press pool on Friday.
"Thank you very much, Mr. President," the White House pool cited Von der Leyen as saying. "Indeed, you helped us enormously when we wanted to get rid of the Russian fossil fuel dependency. You helped us tremendously by delivering more LNG. You helped us through the energy crisis."
Von der Leyen's statements come as the EU President is visiting Washington to review mutual cooperation between the United States and the European Union in support of Ukraine, as well as to discuss addressing the climate crisis through investments in "clean" technology based on secure supply chains.
Raw materials deal underway
The European Commission President said she agreed with Biden on commencing work on an agreement on critical raw materials that have either been sourced or processed in the EU.
"We have agreed that we will start work now with a clear goal. The goal is to have an agreement on critical raw materials that have been sourced, or processed in the European Union," she said.
According to Von der Leyen, the goal of this endeavor is for "these strategic supply chains [to be able] able to access the American market as if they had been sourced in the United States. So, also access to all the necessary benefits from the United States."
