Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that he has spoken with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about defensive aid, energy sector cooperation and increasing sanctions on Russia.

"We appreciate the high level of dialogue with Germany and support in our struggle!" he said in a tweet.

A German government spokesperson said Scholz exchanged views with Zelenskyy on "very concrete, practical ways of continuing to support Ukraine," and agreed to remain in close contact.