Sweden confirms it will apply to join NATO

Sweden’s Social Democrat minority government on Monday took the formal decision to apply for NATO membership, following in the footsteps of its neighbour Finland in a move that will redraw the geopolitical map of northern Europe.   

“There is a broad majority in Sweden’s parliament for joining NATO,” Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said following a debate on security policy in parliament. “The best thing for Sweden and the Swedish population is to join NATO.” she said.  

Moscow had warned of “far-reaching consequences” should Sweden decide to join the alliance.  
Meanwhile Ukrainian troops have pushed Russian forces back from the northeastern city of Kharkiv and some have advanced as far as the border with Russia, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.Meanwhile earlier in the day Ukraine’s Interior Ministry adviser Vadym Denisenko said Ukrainian troops were mounting a counter-offensive in the battlefields near Kharkiv.  

Subsequently Ukraine’s defence ministry said, Ukraine’s 227th Battalion of the 127th Brigade of Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Forces had reached the border with Russia. Kharkiv region governor Oleh Sinegubov said the troops had restored a sign on the border.  

Reuters has not been able to verify Ukraine’s account and it was not clear how many troops had reached the Russian border or where.  

If confirmed, it would suggest the northeastern counter-offensive is having increasing success after Western military agencies said Moscow’s offensive in two eastern provinces known as the Donbas had stalled.  
- STOCKHOLM, May 16 Reuters