Germany will continue to support Ukraine by supplying weapons - Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this at a joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau in Montreal on Monday, August 22, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Our central task is to do everything to support Ukraine. We did that by supplying weapons, providing funds, working together with partners in the G7, as well as with the help of very specific assistance. [...] We understand the possibility of further escalation, so we make an important promise: we will continue to support Ukraine with further supplies of weapons," Scholz said.

He said that German weapons and the latest systems are very effective and often "change the situation in the war in the east and help Ukrainians defend themselves from the air."

The chancellor said that Germany and Canada are determined to continue supporting Ukraine in its defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also emphasized the willingness of both states and partners in the G7 and the EU to do everything to restore and rebuild the country. According to the politician, such assistance is being provided even now, when the war is ongoing. He also announced plans to hold in Germany a joint conference with the EU on the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Scholz recalled that the country has taken in more than 900,000 Ukrainian refugees, and 150,000 Ukrainian schoolchildren can get an education in Germany. This is also a big help, he said.

Scholz noted that, together with his Canadian colleague, he will take part in the second summit of the Crimea Platform, which will be held on the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the Victims of All Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes.

He said Russia must realize that the war it started would not go unpunished, and called the sanctions introduced against the Russian Federation unprecedented, as they will slow the development of the Russian economy, because it will be cut off from high technologies and financial resources of world markets.

At the same time, Scholz stated that Russia is trying to split the international community. In this regard, he thanked Canada for agreeing to hand over a Russian turbine to Germany and thwarting Putin's plans. "Russia is not a reliable business partner. It has cut gas supplies to Europe, and at the moment it is important for us not to fall into Putin's net and to stick together," the chancellor said.