Germany's Pistorius again rejects his party's Russia policy demands

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday again rejected demands from his centre-left colleagues for a reversal in the government's Russia policy, citing ongoing Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine.

"How anyone can even imagine closer cooperation with Russia at this stage is completely baffling," Pistorius, one of the leading figures in Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), told public broadcaster ZDF.

His comments come after prominent SPD figures issued a position paper calling for a shift in Germany's approach to Russia.

The manifesto, signed by former parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, ex-party chief Norbert Walter-Borjans, foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner, and several federal and state lawmakers, urges direct diplomatic talks with Moscow and criticizes the government's rearmament plans.

The SPD is the current junior partner in the coalition government.

Speaking from Kiev on Thursday, Pistorius responded by referring to former SPD chancellor Willy Brandt. He said Brandt supported strong defence spending because he knew that "negotiations with the Soviet side could only take place from a position of strength."

Germany is the largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine behind the United States.