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In addition to the military plunged into a fierce conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia has also suffered diplomatic losses over the weekend, as two European countries have voiced their aspirations for NATO membership.
Finland announced on Sunday that it was seeking to join the alliance, saying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – about three months ago – had changed the security situation in Europe.
Hours later, Sweden’s ruling party backed the country’s intentions for NATO membership, paving the way for application within days.
These decisions could weigh heavily on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has seen NATO enlargement as dangerous after the Cold War period.
NATO, on the other hand, declares that it is only a defense alliance.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said the war “is not going according to Moscow’s plans”.
“Ukraine can win this war,” he said after meeting with senior diplomats in Berlin.
He also said that the alliance should continue its military support for Kiev.
Russia, meanwhile, has caused damage but failed to make much territorial progress in eastern Ukraine.
Russian and Ukrainian fighters are fighting village after village in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers have been fighting Moscow-backed separatists for eight years in the region.
Over the weekend, Russian forces attacked a chemical plant in Siverodonetsk, Donbas, said regional governor Serhii Haidaii.
The governor of Lviv has said that Russian missiles have also destroyed “military infrastructure” in the Javoriv region, near the border with Poland.
The West sends weapons to Ukraine through the city of Lviv.
The Ukrainian military has said it has stopped the Russian offensive in the Donbas.
Ukrainian forces have attacked Russian positions and destroyed two bridges controlled by them.
The British Ministry of Defense has said in its daily report that the Russian army has lost a third of its combat power in Ukraine – compared to what it had when it started the war – and that it has not scored major territorial victories.
“In the current situation, Russia is unlikely to make much progress in the next 30 days,” the ministry said in a Twitter post.
In the city of Mariupol, hundreds of Ukrainian troops continue to refuse surrender and remain stranded at the Azovstal steel plant.
This plant is the only area controlled by the Ukrainians in Mariupol.
Many women trapped women have called on the international community to ensure the “release of the entire garrison.”
In an online press conference, the women said the military troops were left with little bread, food and medicine.
Turkish government spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has said his country has offered to evacuate wounded Ukrainian soldiers, including their departure from Azovstal, according to state broadcaster TRT.
The Russian occupation of Ukraine has raised concerns in some countries that it could be attacked like Ukraine.
Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.
Putin told Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in a telephone conversation that NATO membership was wrong.
Sweden is also expected to apply for membership.
However, NATO operates by consensus and the potential membership of these two countries has been called into question due to concerns raised by Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said Turkey’s concerns were discussed at a meeting within NATO, especially over suspicions that Sweden and Finland support Kurdish rebel groups, as well as restrictions on arms sales to Turkey. .
During a visit to Sweden on Sunday, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said Finland and Sweden would be “significant contributors” to NATO, and that the United States should ratify their membership soon.
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