Sharjah 24 – AFP: US President Joe Biden hosts German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on Friday for talks on charting the way ahead in their support for Ukraine, after friction over tank deliveries to Kyiv.

Scholz's first trip to Washington since February 2022 offers the leaders the opportunity to demonstrate their resolve in backing Ukraine against Russia.

But the talks will likely delve into thorny issues dividing the two, including Germany's fears over Washington's green subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act, and US caution over Berlin's continued strong economic ties with Beijing.

"I think the two of them are now more concerned about the way ahead -- what will the next months in Ukraine look like? What does that mean for the support that the allies can organise for Ukraine?" said Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

They will "certainly discuss one or two other topics", he said, declining to elaborate.

In an address to parliament on the eve of the meeting, Scholz said the partnership between two of Ukraine's biggest backers was "closer and more trusting than ever".

As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, Scholz also offered a hint at the ongoing ruminations among allies.

"We are speaking with Kyiv and other partners over future security guarantees for Ukraine," he told the Bundestag.

But Russia on Friday warned Western countries against providing more weapons to Ukraine, singling out Germany ahead of Scholz's meeting with Biden.

"It is obvious that this will prolong the conflict and have sad consequences for the Ukrainian people," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The chancellor's visit also comes after a period of tensions, namely over the delivery of modern battle tanks long sought by officials in Kyiv, which was agreed to at the end of January.