German Chancellor Scholz accuses Putin of seeking to redraw borders

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused President Vladimir Putin of trying to re-establish Russia as an "imperial power" through the invasion of Ukraine.

Scholz told a German military conference in Berlin on Friday that letting Russia "get away" with moving European borders by force would endanger peace on the continent for a long time.

"Only those who don't listen or read what President Putin says and writes can doubt this," he said.

"He wants to establish Russia as an imperial power in Europe - with the maps of the Czarist empire or the Soviet Union in mind," said Scholz.

The German leader said NATO and the European Union need to prepare for the fact that Russia will define them as "enemies "while Putin is in power.

Scholz said the war in Ukraine showed the need to support threatened countries with civilian means and, if necessary, military aid.

Image: AP