German FM justifies arms deliveries to Ukraine

The Russian invasion justifies German arms deliveries to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told a regional conference of the Greens in the city of Cottbus, reported dpa.

"When the world changes, policy has to change," Baerbock said. "We are supporting the Ukrainians so that they can defend themselves and fight for their security and their peace."

The roots of the party, which Baerbock co-led into elections last year, lie in the German peace movement and many party members remain sceptical of German military involvement abroad.

Attributing the invasion directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Baerbock said his aggression broke international law and was an attack on not only 40 million Ukrainians but also on peace in Europe as a whole.

Nevertheless, direct intervention in Ukraine was impossible, as this would jeopardize the neighbours of Ukraine that are NATO members, she said.

"It is important for us to condemn this war in the strongest terms and to name clearly who can end this war - and that is the Russian president," Baerbock said.

She noted that flights had been initiated to take refugees out of the region to safety in other European countries and to North America. "There will be thousands of flights. There will be eight to 10 million refugees, and we will take them all in."