Nato opens arms to Finland and Sweden

NATO countries yesterday signed off protocols to allow Finland and Sweden to join the military alliance – as Vladimir Putin ordered his commanders to continue their onslaught in Ukraine.

Ratification for the Nordic neighbours is now expected to be fast-tracked, with their inclusion hailed as the biggest shift in European security in decades.

It is also designed to further increase Russia’s strategic isolation in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde posted: “Thank you for your support. Now the process begins.”

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson yesterday toldVolodymyr Zelensky he believes defending troops

“can retake territory recently captured by Putin’s forces”.

The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s commitment to helping Kyiv defend and rebuild, in a call with Ukraine’s president.

Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Johnson for an extra £100mil

Russian attack...Liz Truss

lion in support. The pair also discussed how to get grain out of Ukraine – with a No 10 spokeswoman revealing the PM said Britain “stood ready to help in any way possible”. Mr Johnson has suggested using rivers to dodge Russia’s Black Sea blockade. But there was dismay as Putin – despite

capturing the city of Lysychansk and so the eastern region of Luhansk – continued attacking neighbouring Donetsk.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told a international conference in London on freedom of belief: “Putin and his enablers claim Russia is waging a holy war, but in truth they believe nothing is sacred.

“Civilians shelter from the bombardment while churches, synagogues and mosques are reduced to rubble.”