Washington: US President Joe Biden The leaders of Sweden and Finland met on Thursday after the nations moved to put aside long-standing neutrality and join nato Coalition in response to Russia’s invasion Ukraine,
Hours before his first trip to Asia as president, Biden will hold meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Saulie Niinisto. white House to discuss their NATO applications.
“This is a historic event, an important moment in European security. Two countries with a long tradition of neutrality will join the world’s most powerful defensive alliance,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Biden has made uniting Europe a top priority against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has raised questions about the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in the alliance, asked Sweden to halt support for Kurdish militants it considers a terrorist group and both called on Turkey to lift its ban on some arms sales. Huh.
Sullivan told reporters on Wednesday that US officials are confident that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed. All 30 NATO members are required to approve any new entrants.
Biden’s meeting came as he sought approval from the US Congress for $40 billion in aid to provide arms and humanitarian aid to Ukraine by September.
US officials said on Wednesday that the United States had gathered intelligence that showed some Russian officials knew abuses were being committed against Ukrainians in Mariupol.
“Some Russian officials believe that despite claiming to be the ‘liberators’ of the Russian-speaking city of Mariupol, the Russian military is carrying out serious abuses in the city, including beating and powering down city officials and looting homes,” the official said. Said citing unclassified. wisdom.
Russian officials are concerned that these abuses “could prompt Mariupol residents to oppose Russian occupation,” the official said.
The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Reuters intelligence was unable to verify the claim.
Hours before his first trip to Asia as president, Biden will hold meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Saulie Niinisto. white House to discuss their NATO applications.
“This is a historic event, an important moment in European security. Two countries with a long tradition of neutrality will join the world’s most powerful defensive alliance,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Biden has made uniting Europe a top priority against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has raised questions about the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in the alliance, asked Sweden to halt support for Kurdish militants it considers a terrorist group and both called on Turkey to lift its ban on some arms sales. Huh.
Sullivan told reporters on Wednesday that US officials are confident that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed. All 30 NATO members are required to approve any new entrants.
Biden’s meeting came as he sought approval from the US Congress for $40 billion in aid to provide arms and humanitarian aid to Ukraine by September.
US officials said on Wednesday that the United States had gathered intelligence that showed some Russian officials knew abuses were being committed against Ukrainians in Mariupol.
“Some Russian officials believe that despite claiming to be the ‘liberators’ of the Russian-speaking city of Mariupol, the Russian military is carrying out serious abuses in the city, including beating and powering down city officials and looting homes,” the official said. Said citing unclassified. wisdom.
Russian officials are concerned that these abuses “could prompt Mariupol residents to oppose Russian occupation,” the official said.
The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Reuters intelligence was unable to verify the claim.