Scholz assures 'courageous' Ukraine of continued support

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has assured Ukraine of continued support in its war against Russia, reported dpa.

"The international community will never accept Russia's illegal, imperialist annexation of Ukrainian territory," Scholz said during a conference on Crimea which he was attending via video link from Canada.

"I can assure you that Germany will stand firmly by Ukraine's side for as long as Ukraine needs our support," he said.

"Ukraine will overcome the dark shadow of war - because it is strong, courageous and united in its struggle for independence and sovereignty," the chancellor said.

The Crimea Platform - an online summit - is Ukraine's second effort to mobilize international support for taking back the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Russia, which annexed it in 2014.