German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for profits from frozen Russian assets to be used for military aid for Ukraine.

“These should first of all be used to buy those weapons and ammunition that Ukraine needs to defend itself,” Mr Scholz said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels.

He said he was hopeful the leaders would agree on the matter.

“I am quite sure that we are sending a very clear signal to Putin here. He has made a miscalculation if he believes that we are not able to support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary. And the use of windfall profits is a small but important component,” he said.