President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has secured Turkey’s crucial backing for Ukraine’s Nato aspirations, though Joe Biden said he did not think there was “unanimity” among alliance members that it should join during Russia’s invasion. As the war entered its 500th day…
NATO extends Stoltenberg mandate for 1 more year
NATO’s 31 member states decided to prolong the mandate of Jens Stoltenberg as its General Secretary with one year until 1 October 2024. He has led the organisation for ten years. Stoltenberg was appointed NATO General Secretary shortly after Russia’s…
Turkish fury as Sweden allows Qur’an burning risks further delays to Nato bid
Turkey’s foreign minister has criticised the burning of the Qur’an outside a Stockholm mosque in a demonstration that could further complicate Ankara’s long-delayed approval of Sweden’s application to join Nato. The protest came as Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, told…
Finland lawmakers approve center-right Petteri Orpo as PM
The newly-elected parliament of Finland on Tuesday voted for National Coalition Party (NCP) leader Petteri Orpo to replace Social Democrat Sanna Marin as prime minister. The decision — essentially a formality — ushers in a new right-wing coalition under Orpo…
Ukraine war: Zelensky admits slow progress but says offensive is not a movie
President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged battlefield progress has been “slower than desired”, weeks into Ukraine’s military offensive to recapture areas occupied by Russia. “Some people believe this is a Hollywood movie and expect results now. It’s not,” he told the…
NATO chief urges Turkey not to veto Sweden joining alliance
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has urged Turkey not to veto Sweden’s bid to join the military alliance, ahead of a meeting this month to try to overcome objections delaying Stockholm’s membership. “Membership will make Sweden safer but also make NATO…
Ukraine has no chance to win without direct participation of NATO troops – Orban
Ukraine has no chance of winning in the conflict without the direct participation of NATO troops, so all parties need to argue in favour of peace negotiations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday. “My position is that, looking…
Ukraine in Nato: Orban casts doubt on long-term membership plan
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has cast doubt on Ukraine’s long-held aspiration to join Nato. His intervention came after the bloc’s boss, Jens Stoltenberg, said on Friday that “all Nato allies have agreed that Ukraine will become a Nato member”.…
Finland joins NATO as Russia’s war rages on in Ukraine
Finland has joined NATO in a historic shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto completed the accession process by handing over an official document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO headquarters in…
Finland to join Nato military alliance on Tuesday
Finland will become the 31st member of Nato on Tuesday, the Western military alliance’s secretary general has announced. The application was prompted by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, with which Finland shares a long border. Turkey had delayed the…