Germany worried over extensive Russian troop movements, warns of further sanctions

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Russia on Tuesday that Western nations could impose additional sanctions if Moscow would not cease hostilities and launches further attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, following his meeting with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Scholz said the situation in Ukraine is extremely tense.

“Together with my colleague, I would like to call on the Russian president (Vladimir Putin) to cease all military fighting, withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine, and return to dialogue,” he said.

Scholz voiced concern over extensive Russian troop movements, and reports of a huge military convoy approaching the capital Kyiv, and warned that Moscow would certainly face additional sanctions if it continues its military attacks.

“We stand firmly on the side of Ukraine, and we'll do everything to help Ukraine defend itself against this unjustified attack,” he stressed.

The Russia-Ukraine war entered its sixth day on Tuesday, having faced outrage from the international community since then, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions on Russia.

So far, at least 136 civilians, including 13 children, have been killed and 400 others, including 26 children, have been injured in Ukraine, according to UN figures.

Around 660,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, the UN refugee agency said.