Europe must put Ukraine in strong position for any ceasefire, Scholz says

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe must continue to give strong backing to Ukraine regardless of any talks between Washington and Moscow to ensure Kyiv is in a position of strength and that any ceasefire is sustained, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

"We must continue our support with a clear position that a just peace must be possible for Ukraine," the outgoing chancellor said as he headed into a summit of European Union leaders.

"That means that Ukraine can defend its independence and sovereignty, that she decides her own path and chooses her own leaders, and naturally also that she has a strong army in peacetime."

The debt package agreed by Germany's likely future coalition to finance increased defence and infrastructure spending was a key part of this, he added.

"We will now be able to do what we must as a big state in the middle of Europe," he said.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin; Editing by Madeline Chambers)