NATO signs accession protocols for Finland and Sweden
“This is truly a historic moment for Finland, for Sweden, for NATO – and for our common security,” sa Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg notes that NATO’s door “remains open” for 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 quarrels with NATO member Turkey, which had blocked the countries from joining due to historical complaints about what Ankara saw as their support for militant groups. An agreement was reached to end the conflict when Sweden and Finland agreed to address issues raised by Turkey, including the possible extradition of Kurds who were branded “terrorists” by the Turkish authorities.
The decisions of Finland and Sweden, traditionally non-aligned militarily, to join NATO will not only change Europe’s security landscape but will probably further strain relations with Russia, which opposes the alliance’s expansion near its border.
Delegations from Finland and Sweden at the signing expressed gratitude and said that accession would strengthen “collective security” and help the alliance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the most important factor in getting the two countries to apply for membership.
“This is a good day for NATO,” Stoltenberg added.
The ceremony in Brussels took place as Russian forces continued to make “substantial progress” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, following the capture of the city of Lysychansk, according to the British Ministry of Defense. Unlike in earlier phases of the war, Russia appears to have “achieved reasonably effective coordination” between groups of its armed forces under military leaders, the ministry said on Tuesday.
However, the intelligence update added that Ukrainian forces have probably withdrawn in good shape and in line with existing plans. “There is a realistic possibility that Ukrainian forces will now be able to fall back to a more easily defensible, straightened front line,” it said.
The ministry said it predicted that further fighting over the Donbas would be characterized by “slow rates of advance” by Russian forces and the mass use of artillery “leveling cities and towns 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 were injured, officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video on Monday that “colossal means” will be needed to rebuild critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and waste treatment facilities, and to restore “normal economic life”.
Zelensy said that “tens of thousands” of homes have been destroyed across the country and that “thousands of companies are bankrupt.”
“That is why the recovery of Ukraine is not only about what needs to be done later, after our victory, but also about 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 on Monday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal estimated at Ukraine’s recovery conference in Lugano, Switzerland, that his country needs $ 750 billion for a comprehensive three-step reconstruction and recovery plan.
On Tuesday, Russia’s lower house of parliament approved legislation that would force companies to produce what the government wants, at a price and time frame set by it. The legislation, among two measures that cleared the State Duma, is expected to pass quickly through both chambers of Russia’s stamp parliament before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has struggled to maintain personnel and equipment, with Western countries imposing broad sanctions and equipping Ukraine with weapons.
Russia’s 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, anything else – will be forcibly involved in the implementation of state defense measures,” he said, noting that they would not affect companies that do not produce goods for the military. “There is no need for this.”
One of the two bills said the state could introduce “special economic measures” during military operations, requiring companies to supply goods and services to the military. The second bill would give the government the power to change the working hours of companies that deliver the goods – employees can be asked to work nights, weekends and holidays – with the possibility of no annual holiday.
Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, said discussions on the measures would continue behind closed doors on Wednesday.
Suliman reported from London, Tsui from Washington and Dixon from Riga, Latvia.