[000:00:00;00] ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin, define put into warning, finland and sweden move a step closer to joining nato. finland president says his country's 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 high chief after russian troops withdrawal.

ah. hello monica jones, welcome to the program. finland has confirmed it will officially apply for nato membership. if approved to the additional 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 backed a plan to join nato. there is one problem though. nato member turkey could use, it's fetal 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 a 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 nato 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 its easter neighbor would do the same to finland, moved strongly in favor of joining nato. this happened as foreign ministers from the military alliance. his member countries met 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 nato would increase our shared security. the most would love naples door is

open. and other gresham does not pay the meetings. host german foreign minister, and alina burbock, added an enthusiastic note she on finland, if you are ready, we are ready. piano soon after sweden's prime minister answered the call. nauseous, unprovoked invasion of ukraine is not only illegal and indefensible. it also undermines the european, secure order that we've been at security on as the member of nato. sweden will not only achieve more security, but also contribute to more support to more security one potential problem. turkey has expressed reservations about letting the 2 nordic countries join anchor a blame 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. early us both to ito sat a k, a political scientist at the university of helsinki. and i asked her why finland didn't join nato earlier. well, i think the 1st reason is that there was to says and a lack of public support. i mean, according to the polls, somewhere between 20 to 70 percent and age when state of joining the alliance before that when you crane 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 saw a traffic change in that security environment. and that let 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, it's 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 fulfill and 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 that security 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. she has 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 that 10 past 20 years that they don't want any to, to enlarge. and this is something we have to take into account for 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 to switch energy supply with them again f in 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 dog meshes that good take place, 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. ah, turkey is are now bringing this issue on the table maybe to advance its own causes and interests. but i think this is not something odd that hopefully will happen at the end and tenant will be able to join merits era soccer. ah, political scientists are the university of health care. thank you so much for your time and for sharing your insights with us and keep your crane says the front lines and the east of the country are shifting. kia says russian forces have retreated from hercules to shore up their offenses of indium, where ukraine has launched a counter offensive. ukrainian forces have been clearing the liberated villages near har kiff, but many residents half already fled to the region. another city left and ruins.

russian troops have withdrawn from the areas around car cave, but they have left behind a trail of destruction. for weeks you cream 2nd city faced heavy bombardments forcing many of his residents to plea many went to poland in the cranes, kidneys, bombs are falling on concave. it used to be such a beautiful city. not right now it's destroyed. that's why we left for poland. the push for cent. probably no one expected this. our city is gone. when our boys are fighting for a free ukraine, it's very hard to get a hold of them in a video released by a pro russian sceptre, this commander, and also ukranian authorities. show munitions raining down on the eyes of starcy blunt and marie open. ukrainian officials accused shall dropping phosphorus bombs. they're a claim that cannot be independently verified. human rights groups have long call for

a ban on this type of munitions because of the severe bonds because hundreds of ukrainian fight does have been hold up in the steed factory for weeks. but with russia stepping up, it's offensive. they may not be able to hold out much longer. i'll correspondent amen. s if is in live, if in western ukraine, and he told us more about that as reported phosphorus bomb set as of style. that's right. the ukranian 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 a 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 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 stall 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 you use it on a military population, it's not legal 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 fighting 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 great 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 grove 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 your correspondent, i mean, if they're reporting for us from living in western ukraine. thank you so much. what tom? now to get you up to speed on some of the other stories making headlines around the world. the s b, i says, a must shooting and buffalo was racially motivated. a white teenager opened fire in a supermarket, killing 10 people, most of them black. he was arrested to have 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's most popular state unauthorized failure has ended with a disappointment for chancellor showed, says, social democrats. the conservatives are leading projections with almost 36 percent of the boat. while the social democrats received almost 27 percent, the greens are expected to finish and that place glass to the people of lebanon also went to the polls and low expectations that the vote could really improve the economy or significantly change. the political landscape is the 1st parliamentary elections since the economic meltdown of the past 2 years and a massive explosion at bay woods port in 2020 the one is legacy is included on saturday with by a munich once again, champions, players, coaches, and club buses gathered for a public title celebration on sunday afternoon, due to call with restrictions, fans were not able to celebrate with the team for the past 2 years,

which meant this time around was all the more special munich 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 was here before covered, broke out and it was a great atmosphere then. but i am really happy to be here again on marine plots, the atmosphere and the weather to day are perfect. all along with the fed. got it perfect by on sites were already set on the next league title when he kept her, thus, the congo once it came to my ears that our opponents are hopeful to win the championship next season. tonight, i have said quite a few things standing up here, but let me tell you, they have no reason to be hopeful. one me a game of i am sorry that i have no got busy, obsolete,

and celebrations were plentiful and judging by their speeches, it seemed the players also enjoyed a couple of cold beers. yeah. 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 midwife party to day a back to work to morrow when by unnamed, to begin the task of making it 11 championships in a row. and in the world of 10 is a nova joke of a chance, one the italian open and without his 1st title of the season, the serbian overcame estefano, sissy puss in the final 6th nil 76 in condensing fashion joke, which also won the tournament without dropping a single set, lifting this particular trophy or a 6th time in his illustrious career. and his a reminder of the top story we're following for you. finland has announced that it

will apply for natal membership to finish. president says his country is now entering a new era. sweden's governing party has also backed a plan to join nato. watching dw news up next is sport life reporting on how fc barcelona feminine became the best women's football team in europe. and we'll be back with the latest at the top of the hour. see then