At occasions throughout their quick however eventful alliance, Mr. Biden has appeared eager to let Mr. Scholz and different Western leaders take a public lead on choices associated to penalizing Russia or aiding Ukraine, a technique designed to bolster the concept Europe is performing in live performance with — as an alternative of on the course of — america.

At different occasions, neither chief has wished to make the primary transfer. In January, Mr. Biden and Mr. Scholz introduced that they’d provide battle tanks to Ukraine, ending weeks of you-go-first rigidity with Germany, which had delayed an settlement to ship its Leopard 2 tanks until Washington agreed to the highly effective M1 Abrams mannequin.

“These tanks are additional proof of our enduring, unflagging dedication to Ukraine and our confidence within the talent of Ukrainian forces,” Mr. Biden mentioned throughout that announcement. The president has denied that he was pressured by considered one of his closest allies to supply the tanks, although Jake Sullivan, his nationwide safety adviser, prompt in a latest interview that the president had made the transfer to encourage the Germans to launch the Leopards.

For his half, Mr. Scholz has emphasised the necessity for america and Germany to work intently collectively.

“We’re speaking about very efficient weapons techniques right here, and it’s correct that we by no means present these weapons techniques alone, however all the time in shut cooperation,” Mr. Scholz instructed lawmakers in Parliament in January.

However it’s going to take months for some 30 Abrams tanks to be constructed, and Germany has struggled to meet its promise to ship some 62 of the autos to Ukraine. Whereas Mr. Biden continues to attempt to rally help for aiding Ukraine amid grousing from Republicans, Mr. Scholtz is dealing with his personal home obstacles as he works to ship on a promise for the tanks amid antiwar protests in Berlin.

“I believe that many of the Germans are on his aspect, however they balk at F-16s, and so they balk at issues the place they suppose the purple strains are going to be crossed with Putin,” Mr. Janes mentioned. “He’s obtained to beat these hurdles, so he’ll return and be capable of try this by having met one-on-one, proper throughout the desk from Biden. Then he can say with authority, ‘We’ve obtained backup right here.’”