Placeholder while loading article actions
NATO members took an important step on Tuesday to welcome Sweden and Finland to the transatlantic military alliance, while delegations met in Brussels to sign “accession protocols” for the two states to ‘unite. The 30 member states then have to ratify the protocols in their national parliaments, a process that could take months.
“This is truly a historic moment for Finland, for Sweden, for NATO and for our shared security,” said Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, noting that the door to NATO “is open. “to other democracies.
The signing ceremony follows a decision during a NATO summit in Madrid last week to invite Sweden and Finland to join the alliance. It came after some fights with NATO member Turkey, which had blocked countries from joining because of historic grievances over what Ankara considered its support for militant groups. An agreement was reached to end the confrontation when Sweden and Finland agreed to address the problems raised by Turkey, including the possible extradition of Kurds described as “terrorists” by Turkish authorities.
The decisions of Finland and Sweden, traditionally not militarily aligned, to join NATO will not only transform Europe’s security landscape, but will likely further strain relations with Russia, which opposes it. expansion of the alliance near its border.
The delegations of Finland and Sweden at the signing ceremony expressed their gratitude and said that their accession would strengthen “collective security” and help the alliance. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was the main factor in leading the two countries to seek accession.
“This is a good day for NATO,” Stoltenberg added.
After the invasion of Ukraine, an account of Russian influence in Austria
The ceremony in Brussels took place when Russian forces continued to make “substantial progress” in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, following the capture of the city of Lysychansk, according to the British Defense Ministry. Unlike earlier phases of the war, Russia appears to have “achieved reasonably effective coordination” between groups in its armed forces under military leaders, the ministry said Tuesday.
However, the intelligence update added that likely the Ukrainian forces have withdrawn in good condition and in accordance with existing plans. “There is a realistic possibility that Ukrainian forces may now retreat to a front line that is easier to defend and tidy up,” he said.
The ministry said it predicted that more battles for the Donbas would be characterized by “slow rates of advance” of Russian forces and the massive use of artillery “leveling towns and cities in the process.” And on Tuesday, Russia fired missiles at a market and a residential area in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk, damaging several houses and destroying one. At least two people were killed and seven injured, authorities said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly video address on Monday, said “colossal funds” will be needed to rebuild critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and waste processing plants, and to restore “life” normal economic situation “.
Zelensky said “tens of thousands” of homes have been destroyed across the country and that “thousands of businesses are out of business.”
“That is why the recovery of Ukraine is not only what needs to be done after, after our victory, but also what needs to be done at this time,” he said. “The reconstruction of our state is not just the restoration of the walls we had. … Ukraine must become the freest, most modern and safest country in Europe. “
Earlier Monday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal estimated at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, that his country needs $ 750 billion for a comprehensive three-stage reconstruction and recovery plan.
Did Putin inadvertently create a stronger NATO?
On Tuesday, the lower house of the Russian parliament passed legislation that would force companies to produce whatever the government wants, at a price and deadline set by it. The legislation, between two measures passed by the State Duma, is expected to pass quickly through both chambers of Russia’s rubber stamp parliament before being signed by President Vladimir Putin.
Since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has struggled to maintain personnel and equipment, with Western countries imposing extensive sanctions and supplying Ukraine with weapons.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said it was necessary to “optimize” the work of the military-industrial complex and related companies. He said the legislation would allow Russia to mobilize its economy to support what Moscow calls its “special military operation” against Ukraine.
“This does not mean that any company (small, medium-sized enterprises, any other) is involved by force in the implementation of the measures of the state defense order,” he said, noting that they would not affect companies which do not produce goods for the army. “There’s no need for that.”
One of the two bills said the state could impose “special economic measures” during military operations, forcing companies to supply goods and services to the military. The second bill would give the government the authority to change the working hours of the companies that supply the goods: employees can be asked to work at night, on weekends and holidays, with the possibility of not have annual vacation.
Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, said on Wednesday that discussions on the measures will continue behind closed doors.
Suliman reported from London, Tsui of Washington and Dixon of Riga, Latvia.