NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Germany's support for the defense of Ukraine against Russian invasion, in a statement to the weekly edition of the German newspaper "Welt", two days before the meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the Alliance in Bucharest.

"Germany's strong support makes a decisive difference," Stoltenberg said.

Germany has previously been repeatedly criticized by senior Ukrainian officials for being slow to provide military equipment and for refusing to send heavy weapons. Stoltenberg said German equipment was saving lives in Ukraine.

However, he added that "we must all maintain our support for Ukraine and increase it".

Stoltenberg said Russian President Vladimir Putin was responding to his military withdrawal with "increased brutality".

As an example, he cited the targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

"Putin is trying to use winter as a weapon, but it won't work," added the head of NATO.