Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine is a "war against European unity," German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned.

"Putin's war against Ukraine is also a war against European unity. We must not allow them to divide us, we must not destroy the great work of a united Europe that we started with so much hope," he said in his speech during a visit to the western part of the country.
"This war is not only about the Ukrainian territory, but affects twice as much, the common foundations of our values ​​and our peace order," he added.

But defending those values ​​and being their guarantor also means being ready to "accept painful inconveniences", the German president pointed out, without saying anything more than what he meant by that. "Are we ready for it?" We all face that question – today and in the days, weeks and months to come,” he said.

"Russia does not stop with disputing borders, it does not stop with occupying the territory of an independent and sovereign neighboring country, but it goes so far as to dispute Ukrainian statehood," Steinmeier concluded.