Don't assume 'imperialistic' Putin won't attack other countries, Scholz says

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks on the day of a special German cabinet meeting at the government's guest house Schloss Meseberg in Meseberg, Germany May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday no-one could assume that Russia would not attack other countries given its violation of international law in Ukraine and Germany would support Finland and Sweden if they decided to join NATO.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine broke the post World War Two order and was forcing Europe to bolster its defence strategy, Scholz said in a statement to media flanked by the prime ministers of Sweden and Finland Magdalena Andersson and Sanna Marin.