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A30 world news
Diamars 17 mei 2022

Turkey objects as Sweden, Finland seek NATO membership

military sanctions on Turkey. tion in response.” Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of
Ukraine, with record levels
Erdogan also accused the two Andersson, who leads the of support for joining the
countries of refusing to ex- center-left Social Democrats, alliance. The Swedish and
tradite “terrorists” wanted by said Sweden would hand in Finnish governments swiftly
his country. its NATO application jointly initiated discussions across
with Finland. Flanked by op- political parties about NATO
“Neither country has an position leader Ulf Kristers- membership and reached out
open, clear stance against son, Andersson said her gov- to the U.S., Britain, Germa-
terrorist organizations,” Er- ernment also was preparing a ny and other NATO coun-
dogan said. “During this bill that would allow Sweden tries for their support.
process, we cannot say ‘yes’ to receive military assistance
to those who impose sanc- from other nations in case of On Sunday, Andersson’s
tions on Turkey, on joining an attack. party reversed their long-
NATO, which is a security standing position that Swe-
organization.” “The Russian leadership den must remain nonaligned,
(AP) — Sweden on Mon- thought they could bully giving NATO membership
day decided to join neigh- “Russia has said that it will Swedish Defense Minister Ukraine and deny them and overwhelming support in
boring Finland in seeking take countermeasures if we Peter Hultqvist told public other countries self-deter- Parliament. Only the small
NATO membership, end- join NATO,” she said. “We broadcaster SVT that a Swed- mination,” Kristersson said. Left and Green parties ob-
ing more than two centu- cannot rule out that Sweden ish delegation would be sent “They thought they could jected when the issue was
ries of military nonalign- will be exposed to, for in- to Ankara to discuss the issue. scare Sweden and Finland discussed by lawmakers on
ment in a historic shift stance, disinformation and and drive a wedge between us Monday.
prompted by Russia’s in- attempts to intimidate and Moscow has repeatedly and our neighbors and allies.
vasion of Ukraine. divide us.” warned Finland, which They were wrong.” Left Party leader Nooshi
shares a 1,340-kilometer Dadgostar, whose calls for
The move drew strong ob- Sweden’s move came a day (830-mile) border with Rus- Once a regional military a referendum on the matter
jections from Turkey, a key after the country’s govern- sia, and Sweden of reper- power, Sweden has avoided were dismissed by the gov-
NATO member who de- ing Social Democratic party cussions should they pursue military alliances since the ernment, said joining NATO
clared the two nations should endorsed a plan for Sweden NATO membership. But end of the Napoleonic Wars. would raise tensions in the
not be allowed to join be- to join the trans-Atlantic al- Russian President Vladimir Like Finland it remained Baltic Sea region.
cause they have been too lax liance and Finland’s gov- Putin on Monday seemed to neutral throughout the Cold
in taking action against Kurd- ernment announced that it downplay the significance of War, but formed closer rela- “It does not help Ukraine,”
ish militants. Countries can would seek to join NATO. their move. tions with NATO after the she said.
only join NATO if all current 1991 Soviet collapse. They
members agree. Turkish President Recep Speaking to a Russian-led no longer see themselves as Andersson said Sweden
Swedish Prime Minis- Tayyip Erdogan on Mon- military alliance of six ex- neutral after joining the Eu- would make clear that it
ter Magdalena Andersson day ratcheted up his objec- Soviet states, Putin said Mos- ropean Union in 1995, but doesn’t want nuclear weap-
warned that the Nordic tion to Sweden and Finland cow “does not have a prob- have remained nonaligned ons or permanent NATO
country would be in a “vul- joining NATO, accusing the lem” with Sweden or Finland militarily until now. bases on its soil — similar
nerable position” during the countries of failing to take a applying for NATO mem- conditions as neighboring
application period and urged “clear” stance against Kurdish bership, but that “the expan- After being firmly against Norway and Denmark insist-
her fellow citizens to brace militants and other groups sion of military infrastructure NATO membership for de- ed on when the alliance was
themselves for the Russian that his country considers to onto this territory will, of cades, public opinion in both formed after World War II.
response. as terrorists, and of imposing course, give rise to our reac- countries shifted following

Russia faces diplomatic and battlefield setbacks on Ukraine

(AP) — Moscow suffered another around the northeastern city of in the war, most glaringly in its fail- or gain ground against Russia, a senior
diplomatic setback Monday in its Kharkiv in recent days. Ukrainian ure early on to take the capital of Kyiv. U.S. defense official said. The offi-
war with Ukraine, with Sweden President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Much of the fighting has shifted to cial, who spoke on condition of ano-
joining Finland in deciding to thanked his forces who reportedly the Donbas but also has turned into a nymity to discuss the U.S. military
seek NATO membership, while pushed all the way to the Russian slog, with both sides fighting village- assessment, said Ukraine has pushed
Ukraine’s president congratu- border in the Kharkiv region in a by-village. Russian forces to within a half-mile
lated his soldiers who reportedly symbolic gain. to 2.5 miles (1-4 kilometers) of Rus-
pushed back Russian forces near Howitzers from the U.S. and other sia’s border but could not confirm if
the border. Video showed a dozen Ukrainian countries have helped Kyiv hold off it was all the way to the frontier.
soldiers gathered around a typical
Russian forces pounded targets in Ukrainian blue-and-yellow-striped
the industrial heartland of eastern border marker. One soldier had belts
Ukraine known as the Donbas and of bullets draped over a shoulder and
the death toll, already many thou- carried a machine gun.
sands, continued to climb with the
war set to enter its 12th week on “I’m very grateful to you, on behalf of
Wednesday. all Ukrainians, on my behalf and on
behalf of my family,” Zelenskyy said
The eastern city of Sievierdonetsk in a video message. “I’m very grateful
came under heavy shelling, with at to all the fighters like you.”
least 10 people killed, said Serhiy
Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk Ukrainian border guards said they
region. In the Donetsk region, Gov. also stopped a Russian attempt to
Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Facebook send sabotage and reconnaissance
that nine civilians were killed in troops into the Sumy region, some
shelling there. 90 miles (146 kilometers) northwest
of Kharkiv.
But Ukrainian troops also advanced
as Russian forces pulled back from Russia has been plagued by setbacks