can had been out injured for a whole year and was making her singles come back at the grass grand slam. she lost in a final set tiebreaker to france's harmony turn after a dramatic match. the 40 year old williams was targeting a 2nd e, a record equaling 24th grand slam singles title. you are watching dw news life from berlin. i'm terry martin. we are waiting this moment for a news conference with nato secretary general yen stolt back to begin at the alliance's summit taking place in madrid. stone mack has billed the summit as a game changer that will alter the alliance for years to come. nato leaders are expected to declare russia as the main threat to their security. it was previously labeled a strategic partner, also finland and suite, or being formally invited as members after turkey dropped its opposition, a russian official warned that expansion would be destabilizing to international

affairs. and said nato was acting aggressively. we'll be bringing you salt bags, news conference live when it gets under way. we hope that's going to happen momentarily. well, earlier, at the summit installed back said the summit would change nato for the near future . and the medium term as well i, we will agree that biggest overall, while we're collect the events that are done since the end of the cold war, and u. s. is of course been much part of that. and then we will invite seen in the scene to join april and that demonstrates with naples door is open. um it demonstrates that the president putin has not succeeded in closing, that was door that he is getting the opposite. the wealthy won't see once less, they thought it was, the boot is getting more and they thought by a finance written joining our alliance. well,

talk more about this. i'm joined here in the studio by d. w as chief political correspondent, melinda cray. monday, stoughton berg. they're speaking of the biggest overhaul of nato, since the, of the cold war. what are we talking about? what's going to change? well, really 3 points, 1st of all, and absolutely revitalized to sense of purpose for this alliance. if you remember just a few years ago, we were debating whether nato would survive in the face of donald trump's indifference. his statement that nato had become irrelevant and obsolete. there were real concerns that the u. s. might withdraw from the alliance. and now of course, we are as secretary general stoughton barracks as seeing a lot more nato rather than less. and that's the 2nd point when finland and sweden become members. and that will take some months. that doesn't simply happen today. but when they do, then the baltic sea right there, next to russia, becomes

a nato c, with essentially most of the states along its perimeter, being nato member and members, that is a profound change in european geo politics. and then thirdly, we are seeing nato now today issue a new strategic concept. it does do this regularly every 10 years or so. but this one is fundamentally different from the last one. the last one actually talked about russia as a potential strategic partner. this one will identify russia as nato's prime adversary. for the 1st time it will make very clear mention of china as a systemic rival. and in fact, nato has even invited some very important indo pacific countries to join it there in and, and essentially be at this summit to talk about china's role geopolitically. so those are 3 very big shift for this very important transatlantic body.

this has huge implications. what nato is now preparing the changes that you just mentioned, melinda, by the way, we are looking at live pictures from the venue where we hope that press conference with nato secretary general. yes, soleberg will be getting underway shortly. what these changes that you just described, poorest melinda, that are taking place within nato. we're going to hear more about that in this press conference. we hope these changes have significant implications for the security architecture within europe. and they have major implications because of the war in ukraine, particularly if finland joins nato. that's a 1300 kilometer long border with russia that will obviously raise a raise rushes eyebrows at the very least, and could put it into a completely different defense posture. indeed, russian defense minister, the deputy defense minister today was saying that, right, nato expansion is

a purely the stabilizing factor. that's a quote in international affairs. how might russia respond to this bullet? well, interestingly enough, when the possibility of finishing swedish membership was 1st broached, we heard some pretty harsh rhetoric out of russia, calling it a direct threat to russia. and essentially implying that russia might have to take some kind of action that rhetoric with tone down significantly around mid may when vladimir putin said, we don't have any problems within linden sweden. these are not countries with which we have disputes, by which he seems to mean, especially territorial disputes, as he does have with ukraine, and therefore implying that russia would possibly accept this with a certain equanimity. now of course those remarks today indicate definitely some dissatisfaction, but the, the speaker resolve reserved. his harshest words actually for the prospect that

nato would creep closer and closer to crimea. he said there, in that case, russia would definitely see a very direct threat that could potentially lead to a nato russian conflict. so he's still in terms of finland and sweden, holding back from the kind of harsh rhetoric we heard initially. i think russia now sees that this is going to happen. so yeah. perhaps toning it down a bit. the ukraine war, rushes invasion of ukraine on february 24th changed everything the we keep hearing that again and again we heard german chancellor all of sholtes at the g 7 summit yesterday also saying that things can never go back to the way they were with russia after that invasion, germany has announced a massive boost and military spending, a 100000000000 euros special fund. germany is now going to meet or exceed the 2

percent nato spending target. other nato members within europe are also beefing up their defense budgets. but the united states melinda still remains the main guarantor of security in europe. it was hoping to shift its concentration to the pacific to deal with china. was hoping that, that nate, that nato members within europe would begin to take more responsibility for their own security. as this was supposed to be factored into the new nato strategy that will be presented today, that must be in tatters now. that original atlantic we heard a very different plan now from joe biden, has speaking this morning at the nato summit, saying that the u. s. is now planning, for example, to establish its 1st permanent headquarters on neos eastern flank, namely in poland. the u. s. will considerably beef of its presence essentially from the k to germany, spain, romania, the balkans,

the baltics. so looking at far more, again, not, not less us, but more us. and as you mentioned that there is an ongoing tension within the united states about the degree to which there should be a pivot to asia, to china. and also the degree to which the u. s should still be engaging in foreign wars and for an entanglement. so this posture will not do be to the liking of many people at home, but joe biden is very, very resolute. this is where the u. s. is going and the u. s. in many ways has been driving nato unity during the war on ukraine with a really very consistent attempt to, to keep nato member countries on the same line. warren praise yesterday for the german chancellor at the g 7 summit. although germany has not always stepped up to

the plate to the degree that many nato and e, you fellow members, would like nonetheless, again, president biden saying germany has really turned things around and that 2 percent commitment to defense spending. indeed, germany has never fulfilled that goal that it did sign up to until now, but this new fund will ensure that it does so. so as you say, there are massive changes on many fronts. but what we can say is that the u. s. presence and the u. s. commitment to the alliance are a constant, at least as long as this president is in power. ok, melinda, thank you for now. we're going to go back to some of our regular broadcasting while we continue to wait for the press conference to begin there at the nato summit image rid with the secretary general humans stolen. burke to watching

dw news from berlin, ukraine's president florida meal zalinski has urged the united nations to expel russia as a member and label it a terrorist state. he addressed un security council after a russian miss al, struck a shopping mall, killing at least 18 people. russia claims it did not target them all but fired on a weapons d po, nearby according to ukraine. this was the moment a russian missile hit, sparking a fire that left the shopping mall and kremlin chuck in ruins. and dozens of people dead and missing. with rescue workers still picking through the rubble in the city . far from the front lines. residence are in shock. oh, super feature thing. bend. absolutely. everything like a spark. i had people screaming, i don't know how to describe it. it shocked me. it was horrible.

with those of at those if it's terrible beyond words, will cover how many people with their rush hour people who are returning from work which lots of shops i'm sort of. there were always a lot of people in i'm sorry sicilian ta get it. i think you're going to fill in the rushes defense ministry claims. it didn't target the mole, saying it struck this near by building instead. according to moscow, it was ammunition being stored here, exploding that started the fire that both ukrainian officials and locals deny there was a weapons depot in the area, no residential buildings, a shopping center, a football field, no military infrastructure. he insisted. on tuesday presidency lensky urged the un security council to take action in response to the attack. and for the was bought. it is imperative to deprive russia of the opportunity to manipulate the un. it must

be impossible for russia to stay in the security council as long as its terrorism continues those up. i see them. but with russia holding veto power on the council, there's almost no chance for it facing consequences at the un for the destruction and death here in kremlin chuck. earlier i spoke to d. w correspondent, nick connelly who's in kremlin shook. i asked him to tell us more about that video released by the ukranian government that purports to show the moment the missiles struck them all. that video, which similarly comes from a security camera, shows a missile hitting in the foreground. you see some industrial equipment stored. we haven't be able to get there yet. we're hoping to get there in the next few hours to see the direction from which it was filmed to make sure that fits the geography here. but certainly, if you talk to people here on the ground locals, they point to the patent destruction behind me of this shopping mall. one side basically fully collapsed. they say that's the impact where the other side burnt

out. the russian version is that a fire spread from the factory behind this mall, and that it's, you know, spread to the, to the mall by mistake to destination. maybe if some of those weapons, the ukraine side dismisses that and puts that there is quite some gap between the area of the factory that was hit and the small that those claims wouldn't have spread. so this is now a question of fact checking out to jones on the ground, trying to do those calculations, get that information to be able to challenge those narratives. it is also important to put out the russians are coming out with lots of different and mutually conflicting versions. one way, what went on here, some pro russian media was russian government media talking about attack on the oil refinery, which a tankless way. others talking about an attack on the train station, which wasn't hit, that is also not far away. and then finally, some russian topic mounts talking about ukraine attacking itself to try and get sympathy and support internationally. so lots of different narratives come here to moscow. conflicting narratives and, and seemingly. yeah, an attempt to try an obscure, well, actually went on when went on him,

nick was seen to several missile strike. so with deep inside ukraine over the past week. the attack on that mall in crime and choke is the most deadly. how are people in ukraine reacting to all this? well, definitely, it is shocking. it is scary for people who maybe thought that they are in some kind of safety here. hundreds gumps from the airlines definitely. now where the fighting has kind of localized itself along the front lines and the attack on the rest of the country that we saw in the body, this war has largely finished. but this is also reminded that those air raid warnings are crucial, even if it's very inconvenient every day. basically, you have a couple of hours where those air raid warnings are in place. and most people trying to go about their daily lives, trying to burn living. i just not able to actually spend all that time down the seller all hiding somewhere and we are going to cut straight over to yellowstone back the head of house shot the of nato secretary general. it's great that the

biggest security crisis in europe since the 2nd world war nathan has responded with strength and unity on presence, landscape leadership, encourage orleans ration to all of us. i am pleased that he could join our meeting and to day present landscape, made clear that ukraine relies on our continued support and our message to him. wolves equally fair ukraine can count on us for as long as it takes our laws will continue to provide a major, military and financial help. and to they leaders agreed to strengthen our support, a boy agreeing a comprehensive assistant package for ukraine. this includes some secure

communications fuel medical supplies and body armor equipment to counter it, mines on chemical and biological fits and hundreds of portable anti drone systems. over the longer term, we will help ukraine transition from soviet era equipment to malden, natal equipment, boost interoperability, and further strengthen it's the fence and it's a good at the institutions. all of these shows our commitment to ukraine's future and at our commitment is unshakable. a strong, independent ukraine is white for the stability of the unit atlantic area to day at the summit, natalee this decided for the mental shifts in our defense and the terrans to respond to new security reality. we will strengthen our forward,

the fences will enhance our about groups in the eastern part of the alliance ought to be grade levels. we're all transformed the nato response force and increase the number of high redness forces to well over 300000. we will also boost our ability to reinforce, including with more pre positioned equipment on stock parts omitted as supplies. more forward deployed capabilities like air defense strengthen command on control and up graded the fence plans with forces pre assigned to defend specific allies. this is the 1st time since the cold war that to have these kind of plans with p as owned forces. they will work

with home defense forces and become familiar with local terrain facilities and people stationed stocks so that we can reinforce even foster doing more will cost more today allies re committed to the pledge remade in 2014 to spend at least 2 percent of g to be on the fence since 2014 european allies and kind of have spend the next $350000000000.00 us dollars. 9 eyes now are each or exceed the 2 percent targets. 19 allies have clear plans to reach it by 2024 and an additional 5 of concrete commitments to meet it thereafter.

to present is increasingly seen as the floor, not as the ceiling. allies are also investing more in more than capabilities, contributing more to natal deployments on exit sources. and we have agreed to increase nate, those common funding define ons, to finance the facilities. we need for reinforcement, as well as more training and more exercises, command and control. on engagement with partners, we face a radical change to our security environments. on strategic competition is rising around the world. so today, leaders have endorsed nato's new strategic concept on the it is published as we speak. and this is the news,

the future concept. the current almost agreed in 2010. and this is very different compared to what we agreed. but then it makes clear that russia, russia pulses the most significant and dynamic threats to our security in the current concept. we states that the rest of the teaching partner in the current concept, we do not mention china with the single word in this allies, states that the china score should policies challenge our interests, security and values. the concept also sets out our joint position on counting terrorism, as well as fiber hybrid sets. today we took all the important steps to continue our of the station. we are launching the need, the innovation funds back by laws. it will invest 1000000000 euros in thought

ups and funds developing do use emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. together with nathan defense innovation accelerator for the north atlantic or diana, the new funds will haunt us. the best new technology for trans atlantic security. climate change is the final challenge over time. a need to is committed to playing a part and mitigating the impact on our security. today, we agreed anew mythology, to mock military greenhouse gas emissions. and we agreed concrete targets to cut nate, the emissions. our aim is to cut the emissions by nate, so bowl this and commands by at least 45 percent by 2030

and move towards. net 0 by 2050. this is an important step for our alarms. we cannot choose between having green militaries or strong militaries. they must be both. so we must maintain our operational effectiveness honored and that's as we continue to adapt in the more dangerous and competitive world. we must work even more closely with like minded nations on organizations. this afternoon are in the pacific partners, australia, japan, new ceylon. the republic of korea will take part in the nate to submit for the 1st time. we will also be joined by the european union villain, georgia,

sweden. today. nathan leaders took the historic decision to invite finland and sweden to become members of natal. the agreement concluded last night by to kia filling and sweden paved the way for this decision. i would like to thank took ia finland and sweden for accepting my invitation to engage in negotiations to find a united way forward. this has been hard work over many weeks with multiple contexts at men. the different levels senior officials had to round, so talks and brussels under my auspices. and last night we met prestone the algorithm best and dina store and prime minister on the song. and we were able to

reach the final agreement. this is a good agreement for turkey. yeah. it is a good agreement for fin lung and sweden on it is a good agreement for natal. i'm with that, i'm ready to take your christmas. okay, we'll start with cnn. thank you so much. and so i have 2 questions. the 1st is, i'm wondering if you could talk a bit more about the meeting you've had over the day about ironing out the details of the new force model. and that includes the question of am permanent basic. and i'm wondering, you know, a hootin has said that finland and sweden's membership, it's don't pose a direct threat to russia, but he has also warned them about becoming basis for nato forces or equipment. so i'm wondering whether nato has any plans but permanent basis in those countries now that they've been formally invited into the land for soil during

the session to invite finan unsweetened to become members. demonstrate that naples door is open. it demonstrates that president putin booth and did not succeed. in closing, nathan store naples door remains open on the those will demonstrate that we respect the sovereign right or every nation to choose. so paul. so we of course, respect that finance sweden when they decided to stay out of natal for many, many years. but then you also welcomed them on the respect the decision to join. they thought natal i so all the did a stepped up an 8th has increased its presence sir, in the baltic, nordic region on of course us when they become members we can do even more together . what we will make sure, or whether our presence is that we are able to defend all allies, including of course, fin lung and thus sweden. and these links to the 1st part of regression. when it

comes to this fundamental shift in of the turns on the fence, this is about air c lan cyber. but when they speak about lamb or at that entails or is composed of the main elements, partly more forward presence. we will m a and hands reinforced about the group. so old it, it deployed up to be brigade levels. so that's more presence, especially in the eastern part of the lines. the 2nd element is more pre positioned equipment. we know that actually to more people can go quite fast, but to move heavy equipment and battle times, i'm a nation fuel, all kinds of supplies that take time. so if you have that pre positioned in place, then you can move in very quickly with the personnel. so the 2nd element on top of

the increase presence will be more pre positioned equipment. and then on top of that, we will have for the 1st arm since the cold war, pre assigned forces in, of course, their home countries. but these forces will then rotate in and out. they will train . they will learn how to operate together with their home forces, for instance, in the baltic countries or in poland or, or other places in the lions. ah, there would be familiar with the train, with the pre positioned equipment on friends. one example of this is what germany justice announced that they are now pre, assigning this thing. they thing a specific brigade in germany that will train and of course are worked together with an ordered it german back to group in, into a not on with more pre positioned equipment than this. german brigade has a specific responsibility, an or an and i was advantages because i've trained there and i know the of the

country to reinforce and support early to a not if needed. so these are the elements, or you can also look at the a, nate, the home page. you can see more detail though there in fact sheet. and then of course, the announcement by different allies to day and makes it a so is actually giving a substance to the decisions or the allies made today. into fact, ukraine think you wanna inter foxley queen, happy birthday to one. and thank you for all of my colleagues for everything you are doing for us. so we ship and general question for you. coming back to president zalinski address, what kind of reaction was from leaders into a room? can you little more unsafe? what will be the main message for ukrainian people? do you think you feel that possible for ukraine? them?

where does this more of a way over to churn natal? like sweden if philip result membership action plan. thank you. of the message from the leaders in the meeting i in the room was a very strong, a special support. ah, not only special support, but actually they announced additional a systems weapons equipment that are allies, sneered wise, are now delivering to ukraine or a germany made announcements or norway made announcements and other countries made announcements for additional. a support immediate, her support to, to current the netherlands also are made announcements on, on more heavy weapons to, to ukraine. ah, so part of this is something we do. it's also of their message indeed, but also in words for those in deeds. but i think also it's very clear that alice are prepared for long whole war were wars are unpredictable,

but you how to be prepared for your own all and, and doctors all suttles declare message to all i was in the room from presence lensky and our answer was yes, we are prepared because are they are fighting for their independence, but they're also fighting for values which are important for nato. for the mental for natal, the sovereignty, i are the territorial integrity of every and nation on the on. therefore, these matters for our security, and our folks now is to support ukraine on this war will, as most of the wars at some psalms, as they end at the negotiating table. ah, but it is important that ukraine is able to get an agreement on their terms, which is acceptable for ukraine. and therefore, we know that there's a very close link between what they can achieve around the negotiating table and their strength on the battlefield. and therefore our focus now is to support.