Russia’s war in Ukraine, which began 11 weeks ago, is driving a dramatic expansion of the NATO military alliance, with Finland announcing that it intends to apply and Sweden expected to follow soon, marking a tectonic shift in the European security order and a significant setback for Vladimir Putin.
Finland joining NATO is a threat to Russia, says Kremlin
Russia would see Finland’s accession to the NATO military alliance as a threat and the move would not contribute to more security, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“As we have said many times before, NATO expansion does not make the world more stable and secure,” Peskov told reporters after Finland’s top politicians announced their support for an application for NATO membership.
Peskov added that Russia’s reaction will depend on the development of NATO military infrastructure.
France fully supports Finland’s choice to join NATO
French President Emmanuel Macron has told his Finnish counterpart that France fully supported the country’s choice to join NATO, the Elysee presidential office said in a statement.
Finland must apply to join the military alliance “without delay”, its president and the prime minister said, in a historic policy shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Erdogan says Turkey is not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO
President Tayyip Erdogan said it was not possible for a NATO-member Tukey to support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact, saying the Nordic countries were “home to many terrorist organizations”.
“We are following the developments regarding Sweden and Finland, but we don’t hold positive views,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul, adding it was a mistake for NATO to accept Greece as a member in the past.
Turkey has been officially supportive of enlargement since it joined NATO 70-years ago. Any decision on enlargement must be made by unanimous agreement of its members.
UN sets up inquiry into Russia’s alleged rights abuses in Ukraine
The United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution by a strong majority, setting up an investigation into allegations of rights abuses by Russian troops in Ukraine formerly under their control.
The Geneva-based council passed the resolution through a vote, with 33 members voting in favor and two against (China and Eritrea). There were 12 abstentions.
Russia is the most direct threat to the world: the EU.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said Russia is the “most direct threat” to the international order since its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia “is today the most direct threat to the world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and its worrying pact with China”, she said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo along with European Council President Charles Michel.
Bottom line: Week 11 of Russia’s war in Ukraine
The 11th week of the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw Kyiv’s forces mount a counteroffensive. Ukrainian troops have recaptured towns to the north and east of the country’s second city Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine.
Hundreds of civilians were evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol, and the European Union struggled to agree on the sixth round of sanctions, as Hungary bristled at a potential oil embargo.
Get REAL, UNBIASED coverage of the latest political news and more US news and World news.
Don’t forget to check the U.S 2024 Presidential Election Odds & Follow us on Social Media for more Russia’s war in Ukraine updates!