German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans on speaking with top Republican politicians on his visit to Washington later this week, including those who oppose more aid for Ukraine, a source familiar with Scholz's agenda said on Tuesday.
The chancellor has "absolutely no fear of contact with prominent Republican lawmakers," an official said on the condition of anonymity, adding that Scholz believes that difficult talks are necessary.
Military support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia is one of the main topics of Scholz's third visit to Washington since taking office.
A proposal for a new aid package was submitted by the White House to the US Congress, in which billions for securing the US borders are linked to war aid for Ukraine and Israel.
The legislative effort has made some progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate in recent days.
But Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a hardline conservative and defender of former president Donald Trump, has called the border and foreign aid bill "dead on arrival" in his chamber.
Johnson is one of the members of Congress who have been invited to dinner with Scholz at the German ambassador's residence on Thursday evening, immediately after the chancellor's arrival in Washington.
In addition to the leaders of both chambers of Congress, key defence and foreign policy figures from both President Joe Biden's Democratic Party and the Republicans have also received invitations.
On Friday, Scholz will be received for a one-on-one meeting with Biden in the Oval Office of the White House. A press conference is not planned afterwards, with the German side citing time constraints. The whole trip will only last about 24 hours.
