ukraine thoughts on russai invasion

The German vice-chancellor says it was a mistake that his country didn't support Ukraine militarily much earlier.

In an interview with German public service broadcaster Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Robert Habeck says the support should have started years ago.

“We certainly should have supported Ukraine militarily much earlier, and I'm not just talking about days or weeks, but years," he says.

The previous administration of Angela Merkel was criticised for its ties with Russia, in particular its dependence on Russian energy.

Habeck says Germany is now helping to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, after the government pledged to boost defence spending to meet Nato's target of 2% of GDP. It has also suspended the Nord Stream Two gas pipeline from Russia