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Ukraine conflict: What is Nato and how is it changing? Ukraine conflict: What is Nato and what weapons is it supplying?
(4 months later)
Finland and Sweden already have highly capable militaries Countries from the Western defence alliance, Nato, have pledged air defence systems to Ukraine to help it defend its cities and towns against Russian attacks.
Sweden and Finland have applied to join the Western security alliance Nato, because of the war in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that surface-to-air missiles are Ukraine's "number one priority".
Russia's invasion has also prompted Nato to announce plans to increase the number of troops that can be deployed at short notice.
What is Nato?What is Nato?
Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - is a defensive military alliance. It was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France. Finland and Sweden would take it to 32 members. Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - is a defensive military alliance. It was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.
Members agree to help one another if they come under armed attack.Members agree to help one another if they come under armed attack.
Nato's original aim was to counter Russian expansion in Europe after World War Two. Nato's original goal was to challenge Russian expansion in Europe after World War Two.
Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many of its former Eastern European allies joined Nato. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many of the Eastern European countries which used to be Russia's allies in the Warsaw Pact were granted Nato membership.
Five key challenges for Nato at critical summit Russia has long argued that Nato's acceptance of these countries threatens its security. It has vehemently opposed Ukraine's request to join the alliance, fearing this would encroach too closely on its territory.
How could Finland and Sweden join Nato? How are Nato countries supporting Ukraine?
It can take a year to apply and become a Nato member, and all member states must agree that a new country can join. At its recent summit, Nato members pledged millions of dollars' worth of air defence systems to Ukraine to guard against Russian attacks on cities, towns and civilian installations such as power stations, using missiles and "kamikaze" drones..
Most members are keen for Finland and Sweden - which have been neutral for many years - to join. Germany is sending units of its Iris-T air infrared-guided air defence system, which can shoot down aircraft, cruise missiles and drones, and says the first four of them have already arrived in Ukraine.
Turkey was initially against their membership - saying the two countries have been harbouring members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group it views as a terrorist organisation. The US has pledged to send the NASAMS system, which can also shoot down aircraft, cruise missiles and drones.
However, Turkey has now agreed to support Sweden and Finland's membership after the three countries signed a joint security pact that addressed the concerns. The UK, Canada, France and Netherlands are also sending air defence systems.
Nato members must be democracies, treat minorities fairly and commit to resolving conflicts peacefully. This comes on top of a massive amount of arms which Nato countries have been sending Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February.
They must also provide military support to the alliance. The US has given Ukraine weaponry worth $15bn (£13.5bn), including the long-range Himars system, Javelin anti-tank missiles, howitzers, and Switchblade "kamikaze" drones.
Both Finland - which has a 1,340km (830 mile) border with Russia - and Sweden have highly capable militaries. With Himars missiles, Ukraine's forces can hit targets deep behind enemy lines
Nato members agree to spend 2% of their GDP on defence. Finland already meets this target and Sweden says it will do so "as soon as possible". Poland is providing almost a quarter of Ukraine's weapons from abroad, including T-72 tanks and missiles for its fighter jets. Some of the Soviet-era equipment it has provided has been upgraded to perform better.
How else is Nato changing? Equipment sent by the UKincludes NLAW anti-tank weapons and MLRS long-range missile systems.
Nato has announced plans to massively increase the number of its forces at high readiness from 40,000 to over 300,000 troops. Weapons from Germany include self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and portable surface-to-air missiles.
Its secretary general Jens Stoltenberg described this as "the biggest overhaul of our collective deterrence and defence since the Cold War". France has provided Caesar self-propelled guns.
Is Nato's Nordic expansion a threat or boost to Europe? Nato member countries are also providing extensive training to Ukrainian troops.
The rapid reaction force is a combination of land, sea and air assets designed to be deployed quickly in the event of attack. Some of these have already been sent to countries bordering Russia and Ukraine. What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?
Since Russia's invasion, Nato has also increased the number and size of its multi-national battle groups stationed in eastern Europe. Could Himars missiles help Ukraine defeat Russia?
At a leaders' summit in Madrid, Nato members are also expected to change the alliance's official stance towards Russia, which was adopted in 2010 and described Moscow as a "strategic partner". Why are Nato countries not sending troops?
Mr Stoltenberg said he expected Russia to instead be described as posing "a direct threat to our security, to our values, to the rules-based international order". Article 5 of Nato's charter obliges countries to come to the defence of a fellow Nato member if attacked, but since Ukraine is not part of Nato, its member countries have stopped short of sending troops on to its territory.
Why isn't Nato sending troops to Ukraine? Leading Nato countries such as the US fear that doing so would put them in direct conflict with Russia, leading to a wider war.
As Ukraine isn't a member, Nato isn't obliged to come to its defence. For the same reason, they have also refused to operate a no-fly zone over the country.
Nato countries fear that if their troops confront Russian forces, it could lead to an all-out conflict between Russia and the West. However, there are about 40,000 Nato troops stationed in eastern Europe, on the territory of alliance members such Lithuania and Poland, and there another 300,000 troops on "high alert".
Nato has stepped up its military defences in eastern Europe President Vladimir Putin has said there are military units in Ukraine "under the de-facto command of Western advisers" - a claim widely reported by Russian media outlets.
This is also why Nato rejected a no-fly zone over Ukraine. It is well known that foreign fighters have joined Ukrainian military units. However, there is no evidence that there are serving Nato personnel on the ground.
Individual countries including the UK and the US are providing weapons to Ukraine, such as missiles and armoured vehicles. This video can not be played
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Why is Russia opposed to Nato? Watch: Foreign fighters, including one former British Army soldier, share why they joined the Ukrainian war effort
Nato offered Ukraine a path towards membership in 2008. After Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine made joining a priority. Watch: Foreign fighters, including one former British Army soldier, share why they joined the Ukrainian war effort
But this has not happened, mainly because of Russia's long-standing opposition. Will Ukraine join Nato?
China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion In 2008, Nato countries told Ukraine it could join in future, but set no timetable for full enrolment.
Russia believes Nato has been encroaching on its area of political influence by accepting new members from eastern Europe - and thinks that admitting Ukraine would bring Nato into its backyard. After Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine made joining Nato a priority. Recently, it asked Nato to "fast-track" the process to make it a member.
Ukraine's President Zelensky has accepted his country can't join Nato at present, saying: "It is clear that Ukraine is not a member of Nato. We understand this." Nine Nato countries from central and eastern Europe have supported Ukraine's request to become a member in the near future.
However, both the US and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have said now is not the time to consider granting it full membership, and that it is more important to provide weapons.
Which other countries want to join Nato?
Sweden and Finland both applied to join Nato following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Finland has a 1,340km (833 mile) border with Russia.
All Nato member states have invited the two powers to join, and those invitations have been confirmed by 28 out of the 30 member countries' parliaments.
Only Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify their governments' invitations.