German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that the European Union will strengthen its sanctions against Russia on the anniversary of the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Addressing the Bundestag, Scholz insisted that NATO is not at war with Russia and that, since Russia started the conflict with Ukraine, it should be the one to end the war, claiming the sooner it makes such a decision, the better. The German official stated it is "clear" that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not achieve his goals in Ukraine.

However, Scholz warned that NATO allies should not compete "to outdo each other" in providing military assistance to Ukraine as that "harms our unity."