Ukraine-Russia war LIVE – Monster Putin faces ultimate nightmare scenario as Nato boosted by a MILLION extra troops

VLADIMIR Putin faces a nightmare scenario after Finland & Sweden formally applied to join Nato, which could see its forces expand by a million troops.

Finland and Sweden submitted their highly anticipated bids to join NATO, sealing their decision to jettison decades of military non-alignment, despite threats of reprisals from Moscow.

"The applications you have made today are a historic step," chief Jens Stoltenberg said.

"Allies will now consider the next steps on your path to NATO,"

The membership push could represent the most significant expansion of NATO in decades, doubling its border with Russia – with Putin warning it may trigger a response from Moscow.

But the applications face resistance from NATO member Turkey, which has threatened to block their membership over accusations the Nordic neighbours act as safe havens for armed groups opposed to Ankara.

Stoltenberg added: "The security interests of all allies have to be taken into account and we are determined to work through all issues and reach rapid conclusions."

Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…

  • Joseph Gamp

    Finland and Sweden hand in applications to Nato

    Finland and Sweden on Wednesday handed in their bids to join the US-led alliance NATO, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine up-ended decades of military non-alignment.

    "The applications you have made today are an historic step. Allies will now consider the next steps on your path to NATO," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said, after receiving the bids from the Finnish and Swedish ambassadors at the alliance's headquarters.

    The membership push could represent the most significant expansion of NATO in decades, doubling its border with Russia, and President Vladimir Putin has warned it may trigger a response from Moscow.

    But the applications face resistance from NATO member Turkey, which has threatened to block them over accusations the Nordic neighbours act as safe havens for armed groups opposed to Ankara.

    "The security interests of all allies have to be taken into account and we are determined to work through all issues and reach rapid conclusions," Stoltenberg said.

  • Joseph Gamp

    Roman Abramovich & UK Government reach resolution to push through Chelsea FC sale

    Roman Abramovich and the UK Government have found a legal resolution that should now usher through the Chelsea sale.

    According to initial reports, lawyers for Abramovich and the Government are understood to have found common ground on how to handle the Stamford Bridge club's £1.5billion debt to the Chelsea owner.

    Abramovich has wanted to write off that debt since putting Chelsea up for sale on March 2, but Downing Street sanctions blocked that process amid frozen accounts.

    Government chiefs are understood to have raised repeated concerns that Abramovich would renege on his pledge to waive those loans, despite detailed assurances and planning from the Chelsea owner.

    The Russian-Israeli billionaire and his lawyers are now understood to be confident, however, that their latest proposals will prove acceptable to Downing Street.

    Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly struck a purchase agreement to buy Chelsea for £4.25bn in the early hours of May 7, having won the ultra-competitive and uniquely public race.

  • Joseph Gamp

    Truss: says UK 'open to international criminal tribunal for Putin'

    Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK is open to the idea of an international criminal tribunal trying Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders over the war in Ukraine.

    Asked on Times Radio by the Ukrainian MP Alexey Goncharenko if the UK would support the move, she said: "Well, we are very clear that Putin and all of those who've been behind the appalling war crimes that are being committed in Ukraine need to be held to account, and we're working very closely with the ICC.

    "We've sent support into Ukraine to help collect evidence, from witness statements to video evidence.

    "I've talked to the Ukrainian government about this idea of a tribunal. We are open to the idea of a tribunal, we're currently considering it, but what we want is the most effective way of prosecuting those people who have committed these appalling war crimes including rape, sexual violence, the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.

    "If the tribunal will help to do that, then the UK is definitely considering supporting it."

  • Louis Allwood

    Russia asks its Supreme Court to designate Ukraine's Azov Regiment as a terrorist organisation

    According to reports Russia has asked its Supreme Court to designate Ukraine's Azov Regiment as a terrorist organisation.

    Russia's Interfax news agency, the Justice Ministry in Moscow has said a court case "on recognising the Ukrainian paramilitary nationalist association 'Azov' (other names used: the 'Azov' battalion, 'Azov' regiment) as a terrorist organisation and the ban on its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation is scheduled for trial on 26 May".

    It comes as many Ukrainian fighters were evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks on Monday night.

  • Louis Allwood

    Putin has ‘killed twice as many civilians in Mariupol as Hitler’ with 21,000 dead

    Putin has been accused of being responsible for twice as many deaths in the besieged city of Mariupol than Hitler.

    Some 21,000 civilians have been slaughtered by Russian troops as they desperately tried to flee the relentless bombardment.

    Mariupol's embattled mayor, Vadym Boychenko, has warned thousands more of the city's innocents could die within weeks as decomposing bodies begin poisoning water supplies.

    The leader also likened Putin to Adolf Hitler as he claimed the Russian tyrant is eviler than the Nazi dictater was and has more blood on his hands in Mariupol.

    He told inews: "The evil created by Russia in Mariupol is even worse than Nazi Germany.

    "In the Second World War, 10,000 people were killed in Mariupol in a two-year occupation.

    "In two months of this blood-shedding war, Russia has killed more than 20,000. Putin is a bigger evil than Hitler and we must stop him."

    Evil Hitler's Nazi reign saw around six million Jews brutally killed in the Holocaust.

    Amid their countless atrocities, around 160 concentration camps were set up across Ukraine and more than 1.3million prisoners of war died at them.

  • Louis Allwood

    The ICC sends investigators to Ukraine

    The International Criminal Court has sent a team of 42 investigators, to Ukraine in the "largest ever single field deployment" by it's prosecutor's office.

    In a statement, Karim Khan says investigators will collect testimonials of military attacks which may constitute crimes, while forensic experts would work with Ukrainian authorities to map existing action.

    He said: "Now more than ever we need to show the law in action.

    "It is essential that we demonstrate to survivors and the families of victims that international law is relevant to their experience… in order to bring them some measure of solace through the process of justice."

  • Louis Allwood

    Putin ‘had vital surgery to drain fluid from abdomen in cancer scare’, insider claims

    Vladimir Putin had emergency surgery to drain fluid from his abdomen, forcing the Kremlin to manipulate footage of a recent TV appearance, a Kremlin insider has claimed.

    The Russian president was seen hosting a virtual meeting of the country's security council on Friday, sparking a number of comments about his bizarre appearance.

    An anti-Putin channel on the messaging app General SVR, which is reportedly run by a Kremlin insider, shared the allegations about Russia's leader on Tuesday.

    It insisted in the post that "Vladimir Putin did not hold this meeting in real-time".

    The post went on: "The introduction was pre-recorded and the closed part was played using computer graphics and Deepfake technology to create the illusion of Putin's presence."

    Explaining the reason for Putin's absence on Friday, it added: "On the night of Thursday, May 12 to Friday, May 13, Putin underwent a surgical procedure to remove fluid from his abdomen.

    "The procedure went well without complications."

    It isn't known whether this abdomen-draining procedure was part of cancer treatment.

  • Louis Allwood

    ‘Astonishingly weakened’ Putin fidgets manically

    VLADIMIR Putin appeared fidgety and twitchy in his latest video appearance, amid fierce rumours about the Russian president's health.

    In a meeting with one of his allies, the 69-year-old slouched over and tightly gripped the arm of his chair, following speculation that he is suffering from cancer.

    Russian TV filmed Putin in a meeting in Moscow with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon.

    In the clip, he can be seen continually tapping his feet while gripping the arm of his chair with his right hand.

    He kept his left hand in his lap as he moved his feet erratically during the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) at the Kremlin.

    In his talks, Putin called for closer ties between Russia and its Central Asian neighbours and discussed security in the region.

    It follows claims that Putin's chaotic invasion of Ukraine could be due to his receiving chemotherapy.

    An oncologist has alleged that Putin may be suffering from "chemo brain", a cancer-related cognitive impairment brought on by treatment.

    Individuals suffering from chemo brain can make "crazy" decisions without thinking them through.

  • Louis Allwood

    Russia says Britain should be nuked ‘back to the stone age’

    Britain should be bombed "back to the stone age" in ten minutes using Vladimir Putin's "unstoppable" 7,000mph hypersonic nuke missiles, Russian state TV has said.

    A Kremlin mouthpiece has threatened to use Moscow's new Zirzon weapon system to plunge the country into permanent darkness by wiping out 50 or 60 power stations.

    The latest warning from Kremlin-controlled media came on a "propaganda" show with anchor Vladimir Solovyov – also known as "Putin’s Voice" – featuring controversial Moscow-born Israeli pundit Yaakov Kedmi.

    Kedmi once described Stalin as "the last statesman to take care of his country”.

    The threats to use strategic weapons come amid fury in Russia over what is seen as Britain leading the West in providing weapons to Ukraine in a “proxy war” against Putin.

    In an outburst on Rossiya 1 channel, Kedmi claimed that the use of the big beast Satan-2 would be “too good” for Britain, and instead advocated a submarine missile salvo with Zircon missiles.

    Politician Aleksey Zhuravlyov and another TV propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov had earlier suggested striking Britain with Satan-2, known to the Russians as Sarmat.

    Zhuravlyov threatened to nuke Britain with its Satan-2 hypersonic missile in 200 seconds and obliterate Finland in just ten.

    Close Putin ally Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency, has also warned that NATO countries can be destroyed within half an hour in a nuclear attack.

  • Louis Allwood

    Putin sends warning to Europe

    Putin has warned Europe they will pay a high price for energy if the West imposes an embargo on Russian oil.

    He said talk of a possible embargo had already prompted a rise in global oil prices.

    Whilst speaking with Russian oil chiefs and government officials, Putin said the sanctions, which were introduced following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, had been established by the West for political reasons.

  • Louis Allwood

    Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund

    PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.

    Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund.

    Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.

    Donate here to help The Sun’s fund

    Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles

    £3 — text SUN£3
    £5 — text SUN£5
    £10 — text SUN£10

    Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile

  • Louis Allwood

    Russia says it has destroyed arms shipments in western Lviv

    Russia claims its missiles have destroyed US and European arms shipments in Ukraine's western Lviv region.

    It also confirmed an earlier report stating 256 Ukrainian fighters holed up in Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant had laid down their arms and surrendered, of whom 51 were wounded.

    The Sun has not been able to independently verify the report.

  • Louis Allwood

    Russia: Azovstal fighters who surrendered will be treated 'in accordance with international standards'

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has promised Ukrainian fighters who surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant would be treated "in accordance with international standards".

    Peskov noted that President Vladimir Putin also guaranteed international protocol would be followed.

  • Louis Allwood

    Which countries are a part of Nato?

    Nato was founded in the aftermath of World War Two, with the purpose of securing peace in Europe.

    30 countries are currently in Nato.

    Its 12 founding members in 1949 were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK, and the United States.

    18 more European nations joined after: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

  • Louis Allwood

    Zelensky addresses Cannes Film Festival

    Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed those at the Cannes Film Festival.

    In a video he told the audience: "In the end, hatred will disappear and dictators will die."

    The Ukrainian President made reference to the power of cinema during World War 2, including the Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator which mocked Adolf Hitler.

    "We need a new Chaplin to prove today that cinema is not mute," he said.

  • Louis Allwood

    Austria has no intention of joining NATO

    Karl Nehammer, Austria's Chancellor, has reiterated his country has no intention of joining Nato.

    Following a meeting in Prague with his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala, Mr Nehammer said Austria's history was different to that of Finland and Sweden.

    However, he said his country showed solidarity with Ukraine, allowed arms deliveries to Kyiv and supported sanctions against Russia.

  • Louis Allwood

    Dramatic moment Russian tank is ‘vaporised’ after Ukraine grenades ignite ammo

    This is the dramatic moment a Russian tank was obliterated after three Ukrainian grenades ignited the ammo on board.

    Drone footage shows three smaller explosions followed by a mega-blast – leaving the tank in ruins near Kharkiv as soldiers frantically fleed.

    Trails of destroyed Russian military equipment litter Ukraine as Vladimir Putin's invasion continues to falter in the face of stiff resistance from heroic defenders.

    Fresh footage shows a Russian T-72B3 tank being seemingly vaporised by three grenades dropped by the 93rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army near the city of Izium.

    The clip from May 14 shows the three munitions dropping to the ground in around 30-second intervals as Russian soldiers disperse and run away.

    As each strikes the tank, flames erupt from the armoured vehicle as it explodes – filling the air with thick plumes of smoke.

  • Louis Allwood

    Ukraine blitzes Russian base with infrared drone

    DRAMATIC video shows the moment Ukrainian drones blitz a Russian base as Vladimir Putin’s disastrous war has seen his forces pushed all the way back to the border.

    Footage shows the moment bombs – dubbed by Ukrainian commanders as “letters of happiness” – fall to the ground before exploding in massive balls of fire.

    With a thermal camera mounted on the small drone, you have a birdseye view of the base as the shells plummet towards the unsuspecting Russians.

    The attack was carried out by soldiers from the 503rd Independent Marine Infantry Battalion.

    Putin had expected to roll over Ukraine in a matter of days, but instead his forces have found themselves pushed all the way back into Russia.

    Ukrainian troops have been fighting tooth and claw as they defend their country against the invaders – with Kyiv boasting they have killed more than 26,000 soldiers and blown up thousands of vehicles.

  • Louis Allwood

    Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund

    PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.

    Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund.

    Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.

    Donate here to help The Sun’s fund

    Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles

    £3 — text SUN£3
    £5 — text SUN£5
    £10 — text SUN£10

    Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile

  • Louis Allwood

    Russia asks its Supreme Court to designate Ukraine's Azov Regiment as a terrorist organisation

    According to reports Russia has asked its Supreme Court to designate Ukraine's Azov Regiment as a terrorist organisation.

    Russia's Interfax news agency, the Justice Ministry in Moscow has said a court case "on recognising the Ukrainian paramilitary nationalist association 'Azov' (other names used: the 'Azov' battalion, 'Azov' regiment) as a terrorist organisation and the ban on its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation is scheduled for trial on 26 May".

    It comes as many Ukrainian fighters were evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks on Monday night.

  • Louis Allwood

    Sweden and Finland intend to apply to join NATO on Wednesday

    The Swedish prime minister has said she is ready for talks with Turkey to resolve any issues with their NATO membership.

    Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President, had previously said Swedish and Finnish delegations should not bother to come to Turkey.

    Speaking alongside the Finnish president, Sweden's Magdalena Andersson said: "We are seeking contact with Turkey and we are prepared to… travel to Turkey to discuss and straighten out any question marks there may be."

    During the news conference the two leaders said they intended to submit their bids to join NATO together on Wednesday at the military alliance's headquarters in Brussels.

  • Louis Allwood

    Putin has ‘killed twice as many civilians in Mariupol as Hitler’ with 21,000 dead

    Putin has been accused of being responsible for twice as many deaths in the besieged city of Mariupol than Hitler.

    Some 21,000 civilians have been slaughtered by Russian troops as they desperately tried to flee the relentless bombardment.

    Mariupol's embattled mayor, Vadym Boychenko, has warned thousands more of the city's innocents could die within weeks as decomposing bodies begin poisoning water supplies.

    The leader also likened Putin to Adolf Hitler as he claimed the Russian tyrant is eviler than the Nazi dictater was and has more blood on his hands in Mariupol.

    He told inews: "The evil created by Russia in Mariupol is even worse than Nazi Germany.

    "In the Second World War, 10,000 people were killed in Mariupol in a two-year occupation.

    "In two months of this blood-shedding war, Russia has killed more than 20,000. Putin is a bigger evil than Hitler and we must stop him."

    Evil Hitler's Nazi reign saw around six million Jews brutally killed in the Holocaust.

    Amid their countless atrocities, around 160 concentration camps were set up across Ukraine and more than 1.3million prisoners of war died at them.

  • Louis Allwood

    The ICC sends investigators to Ukraine

    The International Criminal Court has sent a team of 42 investigators, to Ukraine in the "largest ever single field deployment" by it's prosecutor's office.

    In a statement, Karim Khan says investigators will collect testimonials of military attacks which may constitute crimes, while forensic experts would work with Ukrainian authorities to map existing action.

    He said: "Now more than ever we need to show the law in action.

    "It is essential that we demonstrate to survivors and the families of victims that international law is relevant to their experience… in order to bring them some measure of solace through the process of justice."

  • Louis Allwood

    Putin ‘had vital surgery to drain fluid from abdomen in cancer scare’, insider claims

    Vladimir Putin had emergency surgery to drain fluid from his abdomen, forcing the Kremlin to manipulate footage of a recent TV appearance, a Kremlin insider has claimed.

    The Russian president was seen hosting a virtual meeting of the country's security council on Friday, sparking a number of comments about his bizarre appearance.

    An anti-Putin channel on the messaging app General SVR, which is reportedly run by a Kremlin insider, shared the allegations about Russia's leader on Tuesday.

    It insisted in the post that "Vladimir Putin did not hold this meeting in real-time".

    The post went on: "The introduction was pre-recorded and the closed part was played using computer graphics and Deepfake technology to create the illusion of Putin's presence."

    Explaining the reason for Putin's absence on Friday, it added: "On the night of Thursday, May 12 to Friday, May 13, Putin underwent a surgical procedure to remove fluid from his abdomen.

    "The procedure went well without complications."

    It isn't known whether this abdomen-draining procedure was part of cancer treatment.

  • Louis Allwood

    Ukrainian troops being evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks claims Russia

    Russia's Ministry of Defence has released footage on Twitter of Ukrainian troops being evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

    The had beendefending the besieged city's last holdout for multiple weeks.

    More than 260 Ukrainian fighters have now been taken to the Russian-controlled areas of Novoazovsk and Olenivka.

    Source: Read Full Article

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