Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure From Schönefeld, Germany

The President's Meeting With Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom

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.

Situation in the Middle East

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 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 cease-fire in Lebanon. And it's going to be harder in Gaza, but we agree that there has to be an outcome, what happens the day after.

Israel/Iran

Q. Mr. President, do you have a good understanding right now what Israel is going to do in response to Iran's October 1 attacks and when they will actually respond to Iran?

The President. Yes and yes.

Q. Can you tell us?

The President. No and no.

2024 U.S. Presidential Election

Q. Sir, did you hear any concerns about the upcoming American election? Are your fellow leaders worried?

The President. They're interested.

Israel/Gaza Conflict

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 cease-fire?

The President. Well, I'm not going—we're in the middle of discussions on that. We're not—I'm not going to get into that.

Ukraine/Russia

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 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?

Ukraine/International Military Aid

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.

Q. What—what about——

The President. Thank you.