Finland to join NATO on Tuesday

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The Russian flag flew over the Bakhmut city administration building Monday after a Russian mercenary leader claimed to have “technically” captured the eastern Ukraine city that has been a primary focus of the war for several weeks.

But the head of the Ukraine presidential office, Andriy Yermak, dismissed the claim on social media: “Don’t pay attention on ‘victory’ fake inventors. Not even close to the reality.”

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private Russian military company, said on a social media that the flag “is for Vladlen Tatarsky.” The Russian military reporter was killed in a blast Sunday in St. Petersburg that Russian officials dubbed terrorism.

Prigozhin said commanders of Russian units had seized the entire central district of Bakhmut and were raising flags throughout. He acknowledged that Ukraine remained in some western areas of Bakhmut.

TURKEY ENDORSES FINLAND FOR NATO:US condemns Russia detention of Wall Street Journal reporter; Finland to join NATO: Updates

Developments:

►Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Warsaw on Wednesday for talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Polish authorities said.

►Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at next month’s world taekwondo championships. The decision by World Taekwondo’s ruling council could cause Ukraine to boycott the event.

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Finland to join NATO in ceremony Tuesday

Finland will become the 31st member of the world’s largest military alliance on Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Monday.

“I congratulated (Finland) President Niinisto on the completion of the historic ratification of Finland’s accession,” Stoltenberg said on social media. “I look forward to raising Finland’s flag at NATO headquarters in the coming days. Together we are stronger and safer.”

Stoltenberg said Turkey, the last country to have ratified Finland’s membership, will hand over official documents to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said he expected Sweden would also win approval in coming weeks. Both nations sought expedited membership after Russia invaded Ukraine more than a year ago.

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto will attend the ceremony. Haavisto said in a statemen that his country wants to promote stability and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region.

“It is a historic moment for us,” he said. “For Finland, the most important objective at the meeting will be to emphasize NATO’s support to Ukraine as Russia continues its illegal aggression.”

Arrest made in blast that killed pro-Kremlin blogger

Russian antiterrorism officials on Monday blamed Ukraine and supporters of jailed Putin rival Alexei Navalny for the explosion at a St. Petersburg cafe that killed a prominent pro-Kremlin war blogger.

Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee issued a statement saying the blast Sunday that killed Vladlen Tatarsky, 40, and wounded about 30 others was planned by Ukrainian special services and agents collaborating with Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.

Investigators have said they believe the bomb was hidden in a bust of the blogger presented to him just before the explosion. Darya Trepova, 26, was arrested after video emerged showing her presenting Tatarsky with the bust. Trepova reportedly told investigators she was asked to deliver the bust but didn’t know about the explosives.