Scholz, Biden warn on Ukraine aid amid US impasse

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden urged U.S. lawmakers Friday to approve a long-delayed military aid package for Ukraine, warning that Kiev could not hold off Russia's invasion without it.

"The failure of the United States Congress in not supporting Ukraine is close to criminal neglect," Biden said as he hosted Scholz in the Oval Office.

"It is outrageous."

The German leader -- whose country is Kiev's biggest military backer behind the United States -- said he hoped for progress in unblocking the multi-billion-dollar U.S. assistance for Ukraine.

"Without the support of the United States and without the support of European states, Ukraine would have not a chance to defend its own country," Scholz warned.

He later told reporters after his meeting with Biden: "That is why we are both firmly convinced that this must happen now, but also confident that the American Congress will ultimately make such a decision."

Scholz also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "telling a lot of lies" in a "ridiculous interview" with U.S. talk show host Tucker Carlson that was posted on Thursday.

"He wants to get a part of the territory of his neighbors. It's just imperialistic," Scholz said.

Biden did not answer when asked if he would also bring up with Scholz the issue of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is imprisoned in Russia.

Putin hinted in the interview on Thursday that he was interested in a prisoner swap where the U.S. reporter would be freed as part of a deal in which Germany would release a Russian convicted of assassinating a fugitive former Chechen rebel in Berlin.

 'Security and peace' 

But it was Ukraine that dominated the day. The pro...