German chancellor:

“Putin sacrifices Russian soldiers for delusions of power”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday of not only covering Ukraine with destruction and death, but also of sacrificing many Russian soldiers for his "delusions of power".

Putin is sacrificing them so that one day it will be written in history books that he has conquered "ten centimetres of additional territory", said Scholz at an SPD event. The Kremlin leader had broken the principle that had applied in Europe for decades that borders should no longer be moved by force. The German chancellor explained that Ukraine would therefore be supported for as long as necessary.

"Putin is speculating on our disunity"
 The Russian ruler is speculating that the West will not be able to maintain its support for Ukraine. That is wrong, according to Scholz. First and foremost, it is therefore important "that we send a clear signal to the Russian president, who has organized a kind of re-election. He needs to know that his speculation that we will not be able to maintain support for Ukraine for as long as necessary is wrong."

Putin should not count on "us not being able to mobilize enough support over time. Then a situation arises in which he realizes that it is necessary to facilitate a fair peace, which is not a dictated peace, for Ukraine - and first and foremost by withdrawing troops," said Scholz.

Putin wants to further expand the role of the military
Meanwhile, following his re-election on Tuesday, Putin announced the further strengthening of the military and security forces. "Of course, today - and especially today - strengthening the defense capability and security of the Russian state is particularly important," he said at a meeting with parliamentary group leaders, according to the state news agency TASS.