Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has accused the Russian military of committing war crimes in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.

Russian soldiers "carried out a massacre of Ukrainian civilians there, including children, women and the elderly," Scholz said in the Bundestag on Wednesday.

"The murder of civilians is a war crime." The "horrific images" from Bucha "shook us all deeply," said Scholz.

He sharply rejected claims by the Russian leadership that the relevant recordings were fake.

"The cynical assertion spread by Russia that this topic is a staging falls back on those who spread these lies." The perpetrators and their clients "must be held accountable," Scholz demanded.

“The killing of the Russian military” in Ukraine meanwhile continues unabated, said Scholz.

It must be expected that "more such pictures" as in Butscha would come to light.

Scholz again urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately end the "destructive and self-destructive" war in Ukraine.

"Terror against the whole people"

Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) had previously condemned the events in Butscha.

"Incomprehensible atrocities" were committed there, she said at the beginning of the Bundestag session.

In many places in Ukraine, cities are under siege, "evacuation and humanitarian aid are being blocked, the supply of food, water and electricity is being systematically cut." "It's obviously about terror against the whole people," said Bas, adding: "The German Bundestag condemns these war crimes in the strongest possible terms.”

Scholz also announced further arms deliveries to Ukraine on Wednesday.

"It must be our goal that Russia does not win this war." In coordination with the EU and NATO partners, Ukraine will continue to be supplied with weapons and the pressure on Russia will be increased through sanctions.

From Scholz's point of view, the neutrality offered by Ukraine in the event of an end to the Russian war of aggression is a "major concession to the aggressor".

It must not “come down to a dictated peace”.

When he speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he always makes it clear: “It is the Ukrainians who negotiate what they are willing to agree on.

Nobody else."

The question of security guarantees for Ukraine that has arisen has “not yet been spelled out,” said the SPD politician.

"Of course we talk about it, but also with the necessary confidentiality, with Ukraine and do the same with the others who have been addressed." At the moment, however, this cannot be specified any further.

First of all, the questions that are to be guaranteed would have to be settled.