LIVE: German President Steinmeier Speaks to Media After Biden Meeting

Hello Peter How are you? Do you want me to congratulate you? Yes, thank you! How are you doing? Good How are you? Good How are you doing? Good I have a few questions What do you say to my wife? I don't know Do you want to talk to her? I don't know But you can Yes I would like to What was the topic? I don't know The topic was Oh, I thought you wanted your microphone checked. I think she's just getting started. Five minutes ago, he was upstairs. Oh, I have to get a policy. She has both sides here. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, , yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes my very dear ladies and gentlemen dear representatives of the media thank you very much for your interest i am happy to be back in washington and here in this place i have many good memories of friendly encounters and good conversations and when i remember back then it belongs to the early good conversations a meeting with the then chairman of the foreign committee in the senate joe biden we meet today we have just met in another function today both as presidents of our countries and i am very grateful for this invitation to the white house we have talked in detail about topics that move us and all democrats strong support of ukraine on the one hand and of course also about the development of our liberal democracies of the west and i can tell you in advance that was a real exchange among friends, but today is the german american day today exactly 340 years ago the first german settlers landed in pennsylvania and founded germantown in the hope of freedom and protection from religious persecution in the hope of a better life since then germans and germans have shaped the united states as well as americans and americans on their part germany shapes the garden here in which we gather the german american friendship garden in the middle of the american capital between the white house and washington monument reminds of this long history ladies and gentlemen the german-american friendship it is deep and it is strong the way of german democracy is not conceivable without the americans without the day and liberation of europe from the terror of national socialism and marshall plan is not conceivable without the generations of brave soldiers from service men and women who served on german soil and protected europe and is not conceivable without america's support of our reunification also the history of american democracy is deeply shaped by the germans the fighters of the first hour like free herr von steuben the 1848 like karl schurz or mathilde anneke and the many above all jewish emigrants hannah arendt lion feuchtwanger and so many others my special greeting goes today to all americans who are connected to our country, especially the millions of american families with german roots still form the german-speaking population with more than 40 million people, the largest national origin group in this so diverse country dear americans you belong to us and we belong to you germany and the usa are today friends partners and allies together we have been firmly on the side of the ukraine for a long time the usa are the largest in the world germany is the second largest supporter of ukraine germany has made significant decisions since the beginning of the war with the help of ukraine decisions especially with regard to arms deliveries for a country with our history were not easy but the people in the ukraine know what germany says that will be kept in germany, president biden has assured me again today in the conversation that it is up to the usa that is why it was important for president biden and me to send this signal together today we will continue to support the ukraine in its fight for its country its freedom for its democracy another topic has brought our conversation to life in the white house the topic of our democracies our liberal democracies are under pressure they have to prove themselves again and for president biden here in the usa and for me in germany the defense of democracy was the central concern of our respective presidency from the first days and in these days we feel particularly clearly our liberal democracies are not only threatened from the outside but also from the inside fake news hate and heat in the social media polarization division and decay in the political debate that all are dangerous trends that are unfortunately to be observed in many democracies around the world president biden and i know too well that democracy is never finished it is always in the becoming never perfect not in the usa not in germany but to preserve it and to continue to develop it with a view to these changing needs and new challenges that remains the eternal task democracy can only succeed when political graves are not made unbeatable and the compensation of interests is not achieved democracy can only succeed when power comes with responsibility, reason and commitment democracy can only succeed when the common is stronger than the separating yes there is reason to worry with a view to the world and with the conquest of democracy from the inside but I would not be a transatlantic if I did not from the bottom of my heart to the power also to the power of resistance of democracy would have the security of democracy is stronger than those who attack it or even despise it and this conviction unites us that has shown the conversation in the white house today, which is why my ladies and gentlemen, the visit to president biden was so important to me on these days thank you very much i can tell you but that will not surprise you so much now that we have of course also talked about current conflicts about geopolitical changes but you have an understanding of this when i will not report anything from my knowledge if the cia speaks then he speaks himself and not about a german federal president yes i mean i belong to the many in germany who have not only observed this with interest but also with concern we have felt which tensions here in political washington have been in force since the attempts have been known to dissolve the speaker of the senate i very much hope that it will come to a solution that will make it possible at least in the limited scope of common agreements in the context of bipartisanship and this of course also includes the continued support of ukraine president biden was sure that this would succeed because then both had no expectations of germany but quite the opposite of his satisfaction expressed that germany in the last months 19 months of this war has made decisions that make us the second strongest supporter of ukraine today we should not underestimate that this is seen here in washington with great respect and that washington wishes that we not only stay on the side of washington with this support but that we also use our possibilities to convince others to support the ukraine i don't think age is a decisive category but i think it is crucial that people with a sense of responsibility and commitment to their tasks are not only responsible for their decisions for their own country but also for the world and for the united united are certain and that's what I have felt again today in the conversation with joe biden how much of this responsibility for alliance partners and the world is carried out a little louder i assume that the europeans within the european union but also within the european pillar of the nato are fully aware of their tasks we have in these 19 months in which the russian attack war the war has returned to europe a remarkable measure of solidarity and willingness to work together felt and seen in my opinion that does not let up and in addition to all the debates that we naturally have about a ukraine fatigue i have the impression that the european member states the member states of the nato are aware of their duty to their responsibility and continue to contribute what is necessary thanks to you