BERLIN -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday said Germany will continue its commitment to strengthening defense forces in the coming years, including modernizing the Bundeswehr with the special fund of 100 billion euros (108 billion US dollars).

Scholz made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin.

Noting that Germany has reached the target of spending 2 percent of its economic output on defense for the first time this year, Scholz said that "we will continue resolutely down this path."

"All NATO allies must invest more, and I trust that Germany will continue to step up," Rutte said at the press conference.

During the visit, the two sides discussed continued support for Ukraine.