Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Finland's leaders back NATO bid

Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas called it a historic moment and promised "full support."Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis have also both welcomed Finland’s move.Yuliya TalmazanThe Russian foreign ministry said Moscow will be forced to take "retaliatory steps" after Finland announced Thursday its plans to join NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Max ButterworthReutersA NATO membership of Finland would strengthen both the Western military alliance and Finland, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.“Should Finland decide to apply, they would be warmly welcomed into NATO, and the accession process would be smooth and swift,” Stoltenberg said after Finland announced it would apply to join NATO “without delay.”ReutersSiemens will quit the Russian market due to the war in Ukraine, it said Thursday, taking a $630 million hit to its business during the second quarter, with more costs to come.The German industrial and technology group became the latest multinational to announce losses linked to its decision to leave Russia following the Feb. 24 invasion. ReutersUkrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba praised Germany’s response to the war with Russia during his visit to Berlin on Thursday, saying that the country had now taken a leading role following tensions in Berlin-Kyiv relations.In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Kuleba said there had been positive changes, after Germany decided to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine and back a proposed E.U. embargo on Russian oil following pressure from its allies.During the top Ukrainian diplomat’s visit, which will also include an appearance at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting on the German Baltic Sea coast, Kuleba said he plans to lobby for Ukrainian E.U. membership, as well as further sanctions on Russia and a response to food scarcity threatened by the conflict.Yuliya TalmazanThey shared an ice rink and a cordial relationship once, but as Finland announced Thursday its intention to join NATO “without delay,” Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto could not be further apart. “Zelenskyy has become a symbol of that fight.”Read the full story here.Max ButterworthPatrick SmithFinland’s leaders announced Thursday their intention for the country to join NATO “without delay,” a move that would bolster the Western military alliance’s strength in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and redraw Europe’s security map.The Nordic nation, which shares an 810-mile border with Russia, is expected to be given rapid accession to join the alliance and neighboring Sweden looks set to follow with its own bid in the coming days.“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defense alliance,” President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement early Thursday.Read the full story here.NBC NewsUkrainian forces have retaken some areas north of Kharkiv, where they continue counter-attacks as Russian forces retreat east, according to the ministry of defense in the U.K."Despite Russia's success in encircling Kharkiv in the initial stages of the conflict, it has reportedly withdrawn forces from the region to reorganize and replenish its forces following heavy losses," the ministry wrote.