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Ukraine conflict: What is Nato and what weapons is it supplying? What is Nato and how is it helping Ukraine?
(3 months later)
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. Nato countries say they are aiming to ramp up supplies of artillery shells and other ammunition to Ukraine, and are providing it with heavy weapons such as tanks and missile systems.
President Volodymyr Zelensky says that currently, Ukraine only has enough surface-to-air missiles to defend 10% of the country. However, no Nato member has yet agreed to send Ukraine the jet fighters it has been asking for.
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.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 attack.
Nato's original goal was to challenge Russian expansion in Europe after World War Two. The organisation's original goal was to challenge Russian expansion in Europe after World War Two.
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. 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 group were granted Nato membership.
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.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 are Nato countries supporting Ukraine?How are Nato countries supporting Ukraine?
Nato members have 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. Many of the alliance's member states have provided Ukraine with weapons and ammunition to help it defend itself against Russia..
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. The US is sending 31 Abrams tanks, the UK 14 Challenger 2 tanks, Germany 14 Leopard 2 tanks and Norway eight Leopard 2 tanks.
The US has pledged to send the NASAMS system, which can also shoot down aircraft, cruise missiles and drones. The US has also sent armoured fighting vehicles such as the Stryker and the Bradley.
The UK, Canada, France and Netherlands are also sending air defence systems. In addition, the US and UK have sent Ukraine long-range missile systems such as Himars and the M142, which have been striking targets behind Russia's front lines.
This comes on top of a massive amount of arms which Nato countries have been sending Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February. A Himars launcher under tree cover in eastern Ukraine
The US has given Ukraine weaponry worth more than $15bn (£13.5bn), including the long-range Himars system, Javelin anti-tank missiles, howitzers and Switchblade "kamikaze" drones. Several Nato countries have provided howitzers and self-propelled guns, while Turkey has sold Ukraine several Bayraktar TB2 armed drones.
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. The US and others have supplied air defence systems such as Patriot and Starstreak to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and drones over Ukraine.
Equipment sent by the UK includes NLAW anti-tank weapons and MLRS long-range missile systems. The anti-tank weapons that the US and UK have supplied, such as Javelin and Nlaw, were crucial in turning back Russia's advance on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in spring 2022.
Weapons from Germany include self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and portable surface-to-air missiles. Nato countries are also aiming to ramp up their supplies of artillery shells and ammunition to Ukraine, and are asking their domestic manufacturers to increase production.
France has provided Caesar self-propelled guns.
Nato member countries are also providing extensive training to Ukrainian troops.
What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?
Could Himars missiles help Ukraine defeat Russia? Why won't Nato countries give jets to Ukraine?
Why are Nato countries not sending troops? Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky has asked Nato countries to provide fighter jets, but as yet none have been forthcoming.
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. It takes a lot of time to train pilots, and the planes need a great deal of maintenance.
Leading Nato countries such as the US fear that doing so would put them in direct conflict with Russia, leading to a wider war. Nato countries also fear Ukraine could use these jets to strike targets inside Russia, which could draw them deeper into the war.
For the same reason, they have also refused to operate a no-fly zone over the country. However, Nato says the question of the fighter jets will stay "under discussion".
However, there are about 40,000 Nato troops stationed in eastern Europe, on the territory of alliance members such Lithuania and Poland, and there are another 300,000 troops on "high alert". Why isn't Nato sending troops to help Ukraine?
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. Nato countries are not sending troops to Ukraine for fear of provoking a direct conflict with Russia.
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. They also refused to operate a no-fly zone over Ukraine, for the same reason.
This video can not be played Nato has stepped up its military defences in eastern Europe
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. However, since Russia's invasion, Nato countries have stationed 40,000 troops in eastern Europe - on the territory of alliance members such as Lithuania and Poland.
Watch: Foreign fighters, including one former British Army soldier, share why they joined the Ukrainian war effort They also have another 300,000 troops on high alert in Europe.
Watch: Foreign fighters, including one former British Army soldier, share why they joined the Ukrainian war effort Five ways Ukraine war could go in 2023
What other action can Nato countries take? Why isn't Ukraine in Nato?
Under Article 4 of the Nato charter, the alliance can convene talks if a member state feels threatened by another country or terror group. Nato told Ukraine in 2008 that it could join the bloc at some point in the future, but declined its recent request for "fast-track" membership.
The last time Article 4 was invoked was in February by Poland and the Baltic nations after Russia invaded Ukraine. This is because Article 5 of the Nato charter says that if one member is attacked, all members should come to its defence.
Poland is now considering doing so again, after missiles struck its territory on 15 November, killing two of its citizens. If Ukraine was made a member, Nato countries would technically have to go to war with Russia.
Will Ukraine join Nato? Ukraine defence minister: We are in effect part of Nato
In 2008, Nato countries told Ukraine it could join in future, but set no timetable for full enrolment. Why do Sweden and Finland want to join Nato?
After Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine made joining Nato a priority. Recently, it asked Nato to "fast-track" the process to make it a member. Finland has a 1,340km (833-mile) land border with Russia, while Sweden faces it across the Baltic Sea.
Nine Nato countries from central and eastern Europe have supported Ukraine's request to become a member in the near future. For seven decades, both thought it safer to be neutral countries rather than join Nato.
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. But after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they asked to be given entry to the alliance as soon as possible.
Which other countries want to join Nato? The two countries would add 280,000 troops to Nato's forces (including reservists), and more than 200 combat aircraft.
Sweden and Finland both applied to join Nato following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. All 30 of Nato's member states have to approve any new member, and 28 countries already have. Only Turkey and Hungary are yet to do so.
Finland has a 1,340km (833-mile) border with Russia. Turkey's government says both Sweden and Finland are harbouring Turkish citizens who it says are "terrorists" and is demanding they be extradited.
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. Professor Tracey German, an expert in conflict and security at King's College London, warns it could be dangerous if Turkey and Hungary continue to block for Finland and Sweden's membership:
Only Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify their governments' invitations. "Keeping [them] in this grey zone, where they have no defence from Nato's collective security guarantees, is putting them in an awkward situation," she says.
"They might be vulnerable to Russian pressure or interference."
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