German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Russia, by attacking Ukraine, had started a "crusade" against the collective West. This is reported by CNN.

 "All this time, Vladimir Putin and his supporters have made one thing clear: this war is not only about Ukraine, they see the war against Ukraine as part of a larger crusade," Scholz said.

 The chancellor added that he meant "a crusade against liberal democracy, rules based on the liberal order, and against freedom and progress."

 Scholz also noted that Germany will continue to support Ukraine financially, economically, as well as for humanitarian and military purposes.

 "Including heavy weapons, a modern air defense system and tanks, we will continue to provide support as long as needed," he stressed.

 The German chancellor is confident that Putin's attempt to destabilize the mainstream economic order will fail just as he has failed on the battlefield in Ukraine.