German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed his country's commitment to NATO and support for Ukraine at a joint event with US President Joe Biden in Berlin, reported DPA.
Scholz credited Biden for rallying allies and securing key support in the weeks immediately surrounding the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
"Thanks to your leadership, Putin's plan failed, Ukraine was not taken over in just a few days, but instead through the bravery of its soldiers and the support of many countries ... resisted Russian imperialism for more than two and a half years" ;, Scholz said.
He stated that Germany "will stand by Ukraine as long as necessary".
"Together we are committed to a strong NATO that defends every square centimeter of alliance territory," Scholz said. "Every member of our alliance can count on that."
Scholz also thanked Biden for being "close and trusting" relations between Washington and Berlin in these "very difficult times".
The federal chancellor said he would also discuss the Middle East conflict with Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during their joint meeting scheduled for later today.
"Israel has the right to defend itself. It is important for me to make this very clear. "We stand by Israel," Scholz said.
Scholz added that he hoped Israel's killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, would open the door to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages held there.