Scholz, marking Ukraine invasion anniversary, calls for stronger Europe

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen/File Photo

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Europe needs to beef up its defences and make sure it can weather any military attack from outside, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in comments mark two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.

"Deterrence, defence readiness - I know these are unusual words coming from a German Chancellor. Words that we in Germany have not used for so long that they have almost been forgotten," Scholz said in a podcast.