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On Thursday, US President Joe Biden will meet with the leaders of Sweden and Finland, who abandoned their long-standing neutrality to join the NATO alliance in reply to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Biden will meet with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto just at White House hours before his first trip to Asia as president to discuss their NATO applications.
“This is a historic occurrence, a turning point in European security. Two countries with a long history of neutrality will join the world’s most powerful defensive alliance “said Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser.
Biden has prioritised uniting Europe against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has expressed reservations about including Finland and Sweden in the alliance, requesting that Sweden end its support for Kurdish militants it considers a terrorist organisation and that both lift their bans on some arms sales to Turkey.
On Wednesday, Sullivan told reporters that US officials are confident that Turkey’s concerns can be discussed. Any new entrant must be approved by all 30 NATO members.
Biden’s gathering comes as he seeks approval from the US Congress for $40 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine through September.
According to US officials, the US has gathered intelligence indicating that some Russian officials are aware of abuses being committed against Ukrainians in Mariupol.
“Some Russian officials recognise that, despite claiming to be ‘liberators’ of the Russian-speaking city of Mariupol, Russian forces are committing grave injustices in the city, including beating and electrocuting city officials and trying to rob homes,” the official said, citing declassified intelligence.
Russian officials are concerned that these abuses “may further inspire Mariupol residents to endure Russian occupation,” according to one official.
The Kremlin did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, and the intelligence claim could not be verified.
