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NATO members took a big step on Tuesday to welcome Sweden and Finland into the transatlantic military alliance as delegations gathered in Brussels to sign “accession protocols” to join the two countries. The protocols must then be ratified by the 30 member states 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,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, noting that NATO’s door “remains open” to other democracies.
The signing ceremony follows a decision at the NATO summit in Madrid last week to invite Sweden and Finland to join the alliance. It came after some wrangling with NATO member Turkey, which blocked the countries from joining over historical complaints about what Ankara saw as their support for extremist groups. An agreement was reached to end the standoff when Sweden and Finland agreed to look into issues raised by Turkey, including the possible extradition of Kurds labeled “terrorists” by Turkish authorities.
The decisions by Finland and Sweden, traditionally militarily unrelated, to join NATO will not only transform Europe’s security landscape, but are likely to further strain relations with Russia, which opposes the alliance’s expansion near its border.
Delegations from Finland and Sweden at the signing event expressed gratitude and said joining would strengthen “collective security” and help the alliance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the main factor that prompted both countries to seek membership.
“This is a good day for NATO,” Stoltenberg added.
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The ceremony in Brussels took place as Russian forces continue to make “significant progress” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region after capturing the town of Lisychansk, according to the British Ministry of Defence. Unlike earlier phases of the war, Russia appears to have “achieved relatively effective coordination” between its armed forces groupings under military command, the ministry said on Tuesday.
However, the intelligence update added that Ukrainian forces likely withdrew in good shape and in accordance with existing plans. “There is a realistic possibility that Ukrainian forces may now return to a more easily defensible, upright front line,” it said.
The ministry said it predicted further fighting for Donbass would be characterized by a “slow pace of advance” by Russian forces and massive use of artillery, “levelling towns in the process”. And on Tuesday, Russia fired rockets at a market and a residential area in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, damaging several houses and destroying one. At least two people were killed and seven wounded, officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address Monday night that “colossal funds” would be needed to rebuild critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and waste processing plants, and to restore “normal economic life.”
Zelensky said “tens of thousands” of homes had been destroyed across the country and that “thousands of businesses were out of business”.
“That’s why rebuilding Ukraine is not only about what needs to be done later, after our victory, but also about what needs to be done now,” he said. “Rebuilding our country is not just about restoring 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 the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, that his country needs $750 billion for a massive three-stage recovery and reconstruction plan.
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On Tuesday, Russia’s lower house of parliament approved legislation that would force businesses to produce what the government wants, at a price and time frame set by it. The legislation, among the two measures that cleared the State Duma, is expected to move quickly through both houses of the Russian 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 sweeping sanctions and supplying Ukraine with weapons.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov stated that it is necessary to “optimize” the work of the military-industrial complex and its related enterprises. He said the legislation would allow Russia to mobilize its economy to support what Moscow calls a “special military operation” against Ukraine.
“This does not mean that any enterprise – small, medium-sized business, any other – will be forcibly dragged into the implementation of the state defense procurement measures,” he said, noting that they would not affect companies that do not produce goods for the army. “There’s no need for that.”
One of the two bills says the state can impose “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 businesses supplying the goods – employees could be asked to work nights, weekends and holidays – with the option of no annual leave.
Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker 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.
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