This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
As heavy fighting continues to rage in eastern Ukraine, Finland has said it intends to apply to join NATO “without delay,” in a major policy shift that sees the Nordic country, which shares a long border with Russia, abandoning decades of neutrality.
“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defense alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement on May 12.
“We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
Ukraine’s military, meanwhile, reported pushing back Russian forces in a counterattack in the east that could mark the beginning of a shift in the momentum of the war.
Ukraine’s armed forces’ General Staff
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