Ukraine in dramatic fast-track Nato bid

UKRAINE last night dramatically applied for Nato membership after Vladimir Putin claimed four of its occupied territories as part of Russia.

In the face of Russia’s unceasing aggression, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky issued a video in which he signed the paperwork to join the 30-nation military alliance.

‘We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to Nato,’ Mr Zelensky said.

The Kremlin has long claimed Nato is encroaching on its borders and poses a threat to Russia’s security.

Ukraine becoming a member of the alliance has long been thought all but impossible, due to its proximity to Russia.

But since the invasion began two of its neighbours, Sweden and Finland, have sought to become members and Mr Zelensky may hope long-held views about European stability – all but destroyed by Putin – could now be reconfigured to admit his nation.

He also used the video on the Telegram

‘Taking our decisive step’

app to spell out he would never talk with Putin. ‘Ukraine will not hold any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is the

president of the Russian Federation. We will negotiate with the new president,’ the Ukrainian leader said.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg branded Putin’s claim to have annexed the four regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as ‘the most serious escalation since the start of the war’.

But last night he insisted the decision to admit Ukraine required the prior agreement of all its member states.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned the Russian ambassador to protest about the move as the Government hit Russia with more sanctions as punishment for the land grab.

The measures hit Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina, imposing an asset freeze and travel ban.

Britain has also slapped new services and goods export bans on ‘vulnerable sectors of the Russian economy’ in response to the illegal annexation.