ah ah ah, this is dw news life from berlin defying pollutants warning, finland and sweden, the move, 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 it's the 2nd largest city. it is secure to once again ukrainian soldiers clear villages on the outskirts of hard chief after russian troops withdrawal. ah.

hello monica jones, welcome to the program, phil and 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, we 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 over 1000 kilometers with russia. after russia invaded ukraine, public opinion based in part on fears that its eastern 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 a to would increase our shared security. the most with the naples door is open and that the aggression does not pay the meetings. host,

german foreign minister and elaine of 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, thus just unprovoked invasion of ukraine is, sir, not only illegal and indefensible. it also undermines the european security order that sweden bits it 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 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. early i spoke to a, it was sad, okay, 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 in a lack of a public support, i mean, according to the polls somewhere between 20 to 30 percent and age when state of joining the alliance before that when you, craig, and when you crane actually shocked many of cities almost finished people, really and that caused us to kind of revitalize our memories from the 2nd bill and the winter will. and therefore also, so a traffic change in that security environment. and that lead the finished government basically to take the state of you know, joining the alliance. so sending the about application in. so it's, it's not

a if you like, a married or out of love. but 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 fealand once it joins this military alliance? well, obviously we'll take the 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, it are 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, joining nato. yeah. well, we've seen already in the 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, violations 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 dog meshes that good table potentially. right. so a turkey, as we've just heard this report could fill vito villains planned 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. all right, you're a soccer, a political scientist at the university of helsinki. thank you so much for your time and for sharing your insights with us and keep ukraine says the front lines from the east of the country are shifting caves, as russian forces have retreated from car cave to shore of their defense of easy am, where ukraine has launched a counter offensive. ukrainian forces have been clearing the liberated villages the khaki, but many residents have 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 greens, kinney's bombs falling on concave. it used to be such a beautiful city. not right now it's destroyed when that's why we left for poland. the push for cent probably no one expected this. our city is gone. we are 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, showing emissions raining down on the hours of stall seed blood in mario been ukrainian officials accused shall dropping phosphorus bombs. they're a claim that cannot be independently verified. human rights groups have long called for a ban on this type of munitions because of the severe bonds because hundreds of ukrainian

fighters have been hold up in the steed factory for weeks. but the russia stepping up is offensive. they may not be able to hold out much longer. our correspondent, amen. ac is in live in western ukraine, and he told us more about those, reported phosphorus bombs that assa standstill plant. that's right, or that 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 several 1000 degrees fahrenheit, and it 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 of 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 the rescuing the

wounded. and the people taking care of the winners to the doctors who are part of the as of a 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, no right is out of your correspondent ambien as if they're reporting for us from living in western ukraine. thank you so much. what time? now for some other stories making headlines around the world. the f. b i's, there's a mass shooting in buffalo was racially motivated. a white teenager opened fire in a supermarket, killing 10 people. most of them black. it was arrested at the scene and has pleaded not guilty to 1st degree murder authorities believe the suspect posted a $180.00 page manifesto on line. the election in germany's most populated state

north round was failure has ended with a disappointment for chancellor shoulds, 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 in that place. the people of lebanon also went to the polls and the 1st parliamentary elections since the countries economic collapse. the vote is a test of whether the iran back has bhalla and its allies can keep the majority despite soaring poverty and anger at parties in power turn out was only 41 percent. the bond is legacy some concluded on saturday with buy a munich once again, champions players coach this and clap buses gathered for a public title celebration on sunday afternoon. i'll you to call it 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 me, i could really, really cool. i, i was here before covered, broke out and it was a great atmosphere then. but i am really happy to be here again on magazine plots, the atmosphere and the weather to day are perfect or long or the fed that is perfect by and 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 to life. i have said quite a few things standing up here, but let me tell you they have no reason to be helpful. for me. aim of, i'm sorry i he's off know, got busy. opposite me again. 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 mid ice 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 noble joke, obeyed charles, one the italian open. and with that his 1st title of the season, the serbian overcame estefano, c. c. pass. and the final 6 nil is 7 sakes in convincing fashion. joke of each also won the tournament without dropping a single set. lifting this particular trophy, it becomes for a 6th time in his illustrious career. and a reminder of the top story we're following for you. philip 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 nature there watching dw news up next reporter explores how the one ukraine is driving a wedge between russian speakers living in germany for me and the team amberlynn. it's bye bye. thanks for watching. ah, really naturally spectacle in an improved world meeting of the loo whale sharks. the remote island of saint hulu is a testament to the home of the of the artisans waters. one of the many successful.