Related video: Space represents the ‘new place of conflict’, says Macron
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President Joe Biden said he would be willing to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin but that he wouldn’t do so without speaking to Nato allies.
He said he’s “prepared” to speak to Mr Putin but “I’m not going to do it on my own”.
Mr Biden said Mr Putin must show a willingness to end the war, something the Russian leader hasn’t done.
“I’m prepared if he’s willing to talk to find out what he’s willing to do,” Mr Biden said. “But I’ll only do it in consultation with my NATO allies.”
Mr Biden welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House on Thursday, calling France an “essential” ally.
“The alliance between our two nations remains essential,” Mr Biden said on the South Lawn, adding that “we are at an inflection point in history”.
“France and the United States are once again defending the democratic values and universal human rights which are the heart of both our nations,” he said. “The wellspring of our strength is a shared commitment to liberty and justice for all — liberté, egalité, fraternité.”
PHOTOS: First ladies visit Planet Word museum in Washington, DC
First lady Dr. Jill Biden and French First Lady Brigitte Macron speak to students during a tour of the Planet Word museum in Washington, DC , USA, 01 December 2022
(EPA)
US First Lady Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, visit the Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2022
(AFP via Getty Images)
First lady Jill Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron's wife, Brigitte Macron, hold hands during a visit to Planet Word, an interactive museum, in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022
(AP)
Biden says he’s tried to get paid leave for ‘everyone’ when asked about rail workers
Mr Biden was asked during the press conference on Thursday why he didn’t strike a deal that put in place paid leave for rail workers in the US.
“President Biden, do the freight rail workers deserve more than one day of paid sick leave, like millions of Americans have?” a reporter asked. “And if so, why didn't you negotiate for that when you were helping to negotiate that contract that you now want Congress to impose?”
“You know I’ve been trying to get paid leave, not just for rail workers, but for everyone,” Mr Biden said. “But that other team called the Republicans, they voted against it. They said we couldn't do it.”
“We're one of the few nations in the world that don't have paid leave for workers,” he added.
Biden makes ‘no apology' for legislation Macron called ‘super aggressive’
Mr Biden said he makes “no apology” for the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation that Mr Macron called “super aggressive” on Wednesday.
Mr Macron said the law would “kill” jobs in Europe and could lead to a split among Western nations.
The French president’s annoyance is based on tax credits for electric cars urging US companies to make investments at home.
“There’s tweaks we can make that will fundamentally make it easier for European companies,” Mr Biden said. “It was never intended to exclude.”
“We’re going to continue to create manufacturing jobs, but not at the expense of Europe,” he added.
Macron slams Russian war crimes on ‘Ukrainian soil'
Mr Macron joined Mr Biden in his harsh criticism of the Russian war in Ukraine.
“We clearly condemn this war,” Mr Macron said during the press conference on Thursday. “We lead all the diplomatic actions to condemn this war, the war crimes committed by Russia on Ukrainian soil. And we support both the Ukrainian army that is resisting, the Ukrainian population resisting as well.”
“Please allow me here to very much thank the United States of America for all the support that's provided because this war is impacting European soil even more directly, and you've chosen to invest so much to contribute to these joint efforts,” he added.
Ukraine war one of main topics in bilateral meeting with French delegation, Biden says
Mr Biden said during a joint press conference on Thursday that a lot of the bilateral meeting with the French delegation was taken up by the war in Ukraine.
“The United States together with all our NATO allies, the European Union, and the G7 stand as strong as ever against Russia's brutal war against Ukraine. We talked a lot about that in our bilateral meeting,” Mr Biden said.
He added that the support for Ukraine would continue “as they defend their homes and their families and their sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression which has been incredibly brutal”.
Biden and Macron say support for Ukraine will continue ‘for as long as it takes'
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement saying that they will support Ukraine in the war started by Russia for “as long as it takes”.
“They reaffirm their nations’ continued support for Ukraine’s defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the provision of political, security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the statement issued on Thursday read.
“This includes the provision of significant resources to support Ukrainian civilian resilience through the winter, including stepping up the delivery of air defense systems and equipment needed to repair Ukraine’s energy grid,” the leaders added. “The United States and France plan to continue working with partners and allies to coordinate assistance efforts, including at the international conference taking place in Paris on December 13, 2022. They also intend to continue providing robust direct budget support for Ukraine, and to urge the international financial institutions to scale up their financial support.”
Biden praises Macron as ‘not just the leader of France — he’s one of the leaders of Europe'
Mr Biden heaped praise on Mr Macron during the French state visit on Thursday, saying he’s “not just the leader of France — he’s one of the leaders of Europe”.
“France and the United States have always stood together,” the US president added. “And I can say that President Macron and I have stood together since we’ve worked together.”
“France is an incredibly valued ally … from the Revolutionary War, two world wars, we’ve been locked at the hip,” Mr Biden said.
VIDEO: Pomp, ceremony and warm words as Macron arrives at White House
Pomp, ceremony and warm words as Macron arrives at White House
PHOTOS: Bidens greet Macrons on White House South Lawn
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron to the White House in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2022
(AFP via Getty Images)
President Joe Biden (center right) and first lady Jill Biden (R) with French President Emmanuel Macron (center left) and his wife Brigitte Macron (L) stand on the Balcony during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2022
(AFP via Getty Images)
First lady Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron of France, stand together during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022
(AP)
Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron visit Planet Word museum
Dr Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron visited Planet Word museum the Planet Word museum in Washington, DC on Thursday.
The museum investigates how words and language connect people and the surrounding world.
Public school students in a French immersion programme joined Dr Biden and Ms Macron, who are both educators.
The first ladies also took part in a bilingual poetry reading by the Poet Laureate of the United States Ada Limón, who was appointed by the Librarian of Congress, as well as the former National Student Poet Maya Salameh.