German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Friday rejected calls for negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin over an end of the conflict in Ukraine.
"We hear those voices, saying: 'Negotiate with Putin.' But Putin is making it very clear that he does not want to negotiate peace.
Again and again he refers to his 'conquests'," the German minister told the United Nations Security Council in New York on Friday.
"Russia, a permanent member of this Council, wants a souvereign state to give up its right to exist. Where would we be if this principle were to prevail," Baerbock asked the room.
"Which of us would be the next to be invaded by a ruthless neighbour," the minister asked. "If we were to give in to that, this would be the end to the Charter" of the United Nations, she said. "Therefore we will not cease our support for Ukraine, not now, nor tomorrow."
Baerbock referred to the recently signed bilateral German-Ukrainian security agreement, which "offers Ukraine reliable, lasting support."
"We're standing with Ukraine," Baerbock said.
Saturday marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
