NATO Role in Ukraine & Russia Invasion

 

What is Nato?

Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - is a military alliance formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.

Members agree to come to one another's aid in the event of an armed attack against any individual member state.

Nato's aim was originally to counter the threat of post-war Russian expansion in Europe.

Soviet Russia responded by creating its own military alliance of eastern European communist countries, called the Warsaw Pact. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, a number of former Warsaw Pact countries joined Nato.

 

  

  Could Sweden and Finland join Nato?

US officials expect Sweden and Finland to bid for membership as early as June.

If they joined it would take the Nato alliance to 32 members.

Russia has warned both countries against doing so

But US defence officials said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has been a "massive strategic blunder" which is likely to bring about Nato enlargement.

 

Why isn't Nato sending troops to Ukraine?

Because Ukraine isn't a Nato member, the alliance isn't obliged to come to the country's defence.

Nato countries fear if their troops confront Russian forces in Ukraine, it could lead to an all-out conflict between Russia and the West.

Nato says its members are "determined to do all we can to support Ukraine," but must ensure the war doesn't escalate beyond Ukraine's borders.

This is why Nato rejected imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

However, it has approved sending four new battlegroups to Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania - three of which border Ukraine - doubling Nato's presence in the region.

 

Why is Russia opposed to Nato?

Nato offered Ukraine a path towards membership in 2008. After Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine made joining a priority.

But this hasn't happened, mainly because of Russia's long-standing opposition.

One of Russia's demands before the invasion was that Ukraine should never be allowed to join - something Nato refused to accept.

Russia fears Nato is encroaching on its area of political influence by taking on new members from eastern Europe, and that admitting Ukraine would bring Nato into its backyard.

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."

Which weapons have the UK and other countries sent to Ukraine?

Initially, Nato countries limited their supplies to defensive weapons - such as handheld anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles and ammunition.

Now several member states are supplying Ukraine with more sophisticated equipment, to enable Ukraine's army to push back against Russia's army.

• Slovakia has sent its S-300 anti aircraft defence system - this can attack aircraft up to 400km away
• The Czech Republic has sent T72 tanks and armoured infantry carriers
• The UK and Australia are sending armoured vehicles
• Germany is considering sending tanks and other armoured vehicles, but has not reached a decision

Ahead of a recent Nato meeting in Brussels, the UK said it would provide 6,000 new defensive missiles and £25m to help Ukraine pay its armed forces.

The UK has already supplied over 4,000 shoulder-mounted NLAW anti-tank missiles and some Starstreak missiles.