Scholz reaffirms support for Ukraine ahead of NATO summit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once more assured Ukraine of his long-term support against Russia's war of aggression.

Speaking before his departure for the NATO summit in Washington, Scholz said he was glad of the opportunity to restate the very clear message that "we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes."

He referred to arms deliveries and the joint initiative recently agreed by the G7. At its summit in Italy, the group of major industrialized democracies agreed to finance a loan package totalling around $50 billion with the help of interest from frozen Russian state assets.

Scholz said that this was a clear sign of solidarity, but also a message to Moscow. He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not rely on "sitting out this war, so to speak, and waiting until support for Ukraine wanes."