The Latest Breaking News from Donbas

Finland and Sweden formally seeking entry into NATO alliance as US welcomes move

LVIV, Ukraine — Signaling what they called a “new era,” leaders of Finland and Sweden said Sunday they will seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization within days, a move almost certain to escalate geopolitical tensions arising from the Russian war in Ukraine.

Los Angeles Times · May 16, 2022

Ukraine latest updates: Sweden confirms NATO membership bid

Ukraine news from May 16: Announcement comes day after Finland said it intends to join NATO.

Al Jazeera · May 15, 2022

Finland formally seeking entry into NATO alliance

LVIV, Ukraine — Leaders of Finland said Sunday that the Nordic nation plans to seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a move almost certain to escalate geopolitical tensions arising from the Russian war in Ukraine.

Los Angeles Times · May 15, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vows to host next Eurovision contest in embattled city after country's win

Ukraine won this year's Eurovision Song Contest with a performance from the band Kalush Orchestra

Manchester Evening News · May 15, 2022

Britain Says Russia Has Lost a Third of its Forces in Ukraine

Russia has probably lost around a third of the ground forces it deployed to Ukraine and its offensive in the Donbas region "has lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule", British military intelligence said on Sunday. "Despite small-scale initial advances, Russia has failed to achieve substantial territorial gains over the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 15, 2022

Battle rages for Ukrainian region of Donbas

Russia pummelled positions in the east of Ukraine on Sunday, its defence ministry said, as it sought to encircle Ukrainian forces in the battle for Donbas and fend off a counteroffensive around the strategic Russian-controlled city of Izium.

Reuters · May 15, 2022

Blinken 'confident' Finland and Sweden will join NATO despite Turkey's concerns

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced confidence on Sunday that Sweden and Finland would join NATO once they formally apply despite Turkey's voiced concerns. Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he was confident of finding common ground and consensus on how to move on membership issues. Read our live…

France 24 · May 15, 2022

Ukraine's Zelenskyy defiant as Russia retreats from Kharkiv

Fresh off his country’s Eurovision win, a defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to one day host the song contest in the embattled city of Mariupol, which is almost entirely in Russian hands aside from a stalwart group of a few hundred Ukrainian fighters who continue to hold out in…

The Independent UK · May 15, 2022

Britain says Russia's Donbas offensive 'has lost momentum'

Russia's offensive in Ukraine's Donbas region "has lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule", British military intelligence said early on Sunday.

Reuters · May 15, 2022

Fierce Fighting in Ukraine's East but Eurovision Win Lifts Spirits

Ukraine's forces were fighting off a fierce Russian onslaught on the east of the country Sunday, after a Eurovision victory gave the country a much-needed boost of morale. President Volodymr Zelensky warned on Saturday that the war in his country risked triggering global food shortages, adding that the situation in…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 15, 2022