ah, ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin defying putins warning fen land, and sweden wolf, a step closer to joining nato. finland's president says his country is entering a new era a day after russia's president called the idea. a mistake. also coming up. ukraine says its 2nd largest city is secure once again. ukrainian soldiers clear villages on the outskirts of hi keith, after russian troops withdraw. ah

. hello monica jones. welcome to the program. finland has confirmed. it will officially apply for nato membership. if approved, the addition of finland were to double nato's border with russia, the application needs to be endorsed by the finish parliament, but that's expected to be a formality. sweden's governing party has also back to plan to join nato. there is one problem though. nato member turkey could use its veto power to block the expansion. it's a radical break with the past one that was almost unimaginable just months ago. in finland's capital, helsinki prime minister, santa marin, announced the country's decision to apply to join nato. after decades of non alignment, they have reached to day an important decision in good cooperation between the government and the president of the republic. we hope that the parliament will confirmed that decision to apply for native membership. during the coming days. it

will be based on a strong mandate. finland shares a border of over 1000 kilometers with russia. after russia invaded ukraine, public opinion based in part on fears that it's eastern neighbor would do the same to finland, moved strongly in favor of joining nato. this happened as foreign ministers from the military alliance as member countries meant in berlin. nato secretary general appeared at that meeting via video link. he welcomed finland's decision and encouraged sweden to follow. this would be a historic moment. their membership in a tow would increase our shared security. the most with the naples door is open of aggression does not pay the meetings. host,

german foreign minister, and elaine of babel added an enthusiastic note. she leaned on finland. if you are ready, we are ready. piano one, potential problem turkey has expressed reservations about letting the 2 nordic countries join anchor a blames them for sheltering. curtis activists that turkey considers enemies of the state. there should be absolute security guarantees here. and this is not just about to candidate countries, but also about allied states who need to stop supporting terrorist organizations. but officials said they were certain those differences could be resolved quickly. meanwhile, nothing will change right away. the finished parliament must ratify the decision, and the nato application process could take up to a year with and to find out more about villains nay's who bit i'm joined now by euro,

circa she is a political scientist at the university of helsinki is a very good to have you with us. and i would like to start with a question that it may sound naive, but why didn't finland to join nato earlier? well, i think the 1st reason is that there was to says in a lack of public support, i mean, according to the tools, somewhere between 20 to 30 percent and age when state of joining the alliance. before that, when you craig and the when ukraine actually shocked many of cities, almost finished people, really. and that caused us to kind of revitalize our memories from the 2nd world war and the winter war. and therefore also we saw a drastic change in that security environment. and that led the finish government basically to take the step of, you know, joining the alliance or sending the about application. and so it's, it's not a, if you like, a married or out of love or because you say the population for a long time was reluctant to join nato. but now it's a, it's

a move out to fear. what will change for finland once it joins this military alliance? well, obviously we'll take a final step towards their family western nations. i think that's the most important foreign policy step that we're taking after joining you in 1995. militarily, we will gain security. i guarantees article 5 guarantees from nato, but at the same time we will also contribute to collecting defense. and this is important to realize also here in finland, we will be actively operating with nato and enhancing our defense capabilities. what we've done this already over the past 30 years, and i think in terms of practical daily life, really not change a lot even in life will continue as normal. now you share a very not you personally, finland shares a very long line with russia as its neighbor. how could russia react to, to finland, to joining nato?

yeah. well, we've seen already in that criminal rhetoric over the 10 past 20 years that they don't want to enlarge. and this is something we have to take into account potentially. they could be some hybrid threats, cyber threats, and also we seen in the, in the past my nations of air space. these might continue. they might be broken, the switch energy supply with them again f and is heavily dependent on russian energy are such as a gas. so it's, it's not such a big issue. and i think these are the kinds of hosting meshes that good tape of lights, potentially. right, so a turkey, as we've just heard this report, could still vito villains plan to join nato just very briefly. what would that mean? i think it's a highly unlikely situation to happen. ok. turkey is now bringing this

issue on the table maybe to advance its own, of course is an interest. but i think this is not something that hopefully will happen at the end. and then we'll be able to join, all right, you know, soccer, a political scientist of the university of health care. thank you so much for your time and for sharing your insights with us. thank you. the ukraine says the front lines in the east of the country are shifting. russia has made some gains on the dumbass region, but ukraine says it is waging a counter offensive on the russian hill. city of e. c. m. k. assess russian forces retreated from ukraine. second, city hard keep to shore up its defenses of im, ukrainian forces have been clearing the liberated villages near harkey and residence there have started focusing on rebuilding their lives. earlier i spoke to our correspondent, i'm in a safe in live in western ukraine, and i asked him what more he can tell us about the possible firing of phosphorus

bombs and the us of style steel plant that both sides the pro russian separatist and the ukranian authorities are talking about and have published that's rights. ukrainian authorities have accused russia of using phosphorus bombs on the as a star steel plant. as we saw in this video that was circulating on social media, it has all the trademarks of phosphorus weapon and russia has admitted before to using phosphorus weapons. so wouldn't be a surprise here. now, this is a bomb that ukraine says. it's called the 9 m $22.00, s a grad, munitions, which is a phosphorus incendiary weapon. it can burnett a several 1000 degrees fahrenheit and can cause serious burns. and the reason russia might be using this is either to create a smokescreen so their troops can form a ground assault or to suck the oxygen out of the air in order to suffocate the as of stalled defenders who are still hold up in that a steel plant,

they're in rushes, trying to get them out to force them to surrender, or to take over the plant by force. now, phosphorus, munitions are not actually banned by international law. the united states continues to use them, has used them in iraq and syria, and as long as he use it on a military population. it's not illegal where russia says his hands are no longer tied because civilians have been taken out of steel plan and where you pull and are only finally against the as off regiment that remains locked up in that fortification. right? it does exactly what i wanted to follow up on a. is there any news on the ukrainian soldiers holding up there at that steel plant? the training president vladimir zalinski said that they're doing all they can to get them out of there. they're focusing their attentions. now on rescuing the wounded and the people taking care of the win is to the doctors who are part of the as of regiment, but are not considered combatants because they're out of commission or because

they're doctors who are helping the soldiers. so the credit grab government is trying diplomatic ways to create some kind of a prisoner trade with russia, which russia has so far denied. now the wives of those defenders are worried about them. they said in their minds they don't think they'll see their husbands again. but in their hearts they still have hope. monica, i did have the correspondent, i mean, if they're reporting for us from living in western ukraine, thank you so much. let's get you now up to speed on some other stories making headlines around the world. the f b, i says a mass shooting in buffalo was racially motivated, a white teenage out in fi on a supermarket, killing 10 people, most of them black. it was arrested of the scene and has pleaded not guilty to 1st degree murder authorities believe the suspect posted a $180.00 page manifesto online. the election in germany must popular state north rhymes failure and it with a disappointment for chancellor sholtes as social democrats, a conservative,

a leading projections with around 35 percent of the boat. while the social democrats received some 27 percent. the greens are expected to finish in set place the people of lebanon also went to the polls, him at low expectations that their vote could really improve the economy or significantly change the politically and landscape was the 1st parliamentary election since the economic meltdown of the past. 2 years and a massive explosion at bay roots at a port in 2020 time for some sports now. and the bonus legacy isn't concluded on saturday with by munich once again, champions, players coaches and clapper bosses gathered for a public title celebration on sunday afternoon. due to covered restrictions, funds were not able to celebrate with the team for the past 2 years, which meant this time around was all the more special music's town hall balcony was full of bonus league trophies. this season marks by and 10th championship in a row. and marine plots was full of fans for the 1st time since 2019 meg.

i'm a guy who really, really cool i. i was here before covert broke out and it was a great atmosphere then. but i am really happy to be here again on mugging plots, the atmosphere and the weather today are perfect, or your mom or the fed got it perfect by on sites were already set on the next league title. when he left her, thus the congo whence it came to my ears, that our opponents are hopeful to win the championship next season. july, i have said quite a few things standing up here, but let me tell you, they have no reason to be helpful. for me, a game of i'm sorry i he's off know, got busy apps. megan, celebrations were plentiful and judging by their speeches, it seemed the players also enjoyed a couple of cold beers. m longer we had to wait a long time to celebrate with you again. and as ali said,

we want to be up here in the upcoming years as well. celebrating with you all in mid i party to day a back to work to morrow when by on aim to begin the task of making it 11 championships in a row. now the women's abundant legacy and finished on sunday. the title had already been wrapped up by love, spoke that the battle for the remaining champion. sleek spots was intense. the indians, by munich and frankfort, will be joining the wolves in europe next season. it was a thrilling finale to the women's bundis league season champions valve spring thrashed laver coups and $71.00 to end their campaign in high style. and they savored hoisting the league trophy in front of the home fans. the race for 3rd place came down to the wire in the end, louder for i gangs brace made sure. frankfurt secured it. they punched their ticket

to the champions league for the 1st time since 2016 by a munich, finished the season in 2nd place. after beating potsdam 5 nill, that means they are also champions league bound. ukraine's carlos orchestra has won the eurovision song contest. ah, was a favorite going into the final with this song stefan? yeah. we to blends traditional folk music with hip hop. the band was in 4th place after the jury voted, but swept to victory, thanks to support from fans across europe. and he is a reminder of the top story we're following for you. thin land has announced that it will apply for nato membership. the finished president says his country is now entering a new era. sweden's governing party has also backed

a plan to join nato. their watching dw news op. next is our technology show shift, including a report about a woman who has been taken worried for me and the team here in berlin. thanks for watching. and if you want, we'll see you again at the top of the hour for the latest one, continent, 700000000 people with their own personal stories. europe, with every day life with what europeans fear. and what they hope for sucrose on european on d w. m. no.