Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure | Schönefeld, Germany
October 18, 2024
Berlin Brandenburg International Airport
Schönefeld, Germany
5:48 P.M. CET
Q Mr. President, what did you achieve today?
THE PRESIDENT: We had very good meetings today with the Quad. There was an almost — there was unanimity on continuing to support what's going on in Ukraine, helping the Ukrainians.
We also talked about the Middle East. We think there's a road to peace there. It's going to be harder. It's going to be difficult. But we're all on the same page. So, there's total unanimity. And —
Q Did your predecessor come up in the discussions?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know who my predecessor is.
Q Can you give us a sense about the Middle East piece? Do you — you said it's going to be harder. Do you have any sense of a timeline? Are you putting more pressure on Netanyahu?
THE PRESIDENT: There's an opportunity, in my view — and my colleagues agreed — that we can probably deal to the — Israel and Iran in a way that is — ends the — the conflict for a while.
Q Say that again.
THE PRESIDENT: That ends the conflict. In other words, that stops the back and forth.
We think that there's a possibility of working to a ceasefire in Lebanon. And it's going to be harder in Gaza, but we agree that there has to be an outcome, what — what happens the day after.
Q Mr. President, do you have a good understanding right now what Israel is going to do in response to Iran's October 1st attacks and when they will actually respond to Iran?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes and yes.
Q Can you tell us?
THE PRESIDENT: No and no.
Q Sir, did you hear any concerns about the upcoming American election? Are your fellow leaders worried?
THE PRESIDENT: They're interested.
Q Do you — did you get reassurance from Netanyahu yesterday on your phone call that they're willing to come to the table on a ceasefire?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I — I'm not go- — we're in the middle of discussions on that. We're not — I'm not going to get into that.
Q Mr. President, is there any chance that you would — on Ukraine — that you would change your mind on long-range weapons, allowing them to strike deeper into Russia, which is one of the main proposals that Zelenskyy put out?
THE PRESIDENT: In — in foreign policy, there's never a, "Well, I never change my mind." Right now, there is no consensus for long-range weapons (inaudible).
Q What would have to happen for you to change your mind on that —
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to speculate.
Q — and NATO membership?
Q What's the consensus on the Ukraine victory plan from the Quad meeting?
THE PRESIDENT: Say it again.
Q The consensus on the Ukraine victory plan from —
THE PRESIDENT: We're —
Q — the Quad meeting?
THE PRESIDENT: We're going to stay with Ukraine. We're going to make sure they continue to have capabilities.
Thank you.
5:50 P.M. CET
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