Putin’s war on Ukraine part of crusade against liberal democracy, says Scholz

German chancellor's language hardens after Russian strikes on major Ukrainian cities

Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has accused Vladimir Putin of waging a crusade against our way of life", in a shift of rhetoric days after heavy Russian missile strikes hit major Ukrainian cities.

They consider their war against Ukraine to be part of a larger crusade," Scholz said in a video address to a summit of European socialist, liberal and green politicians and thinkers in Berlin.