President objects to adding Nordics to Western bulwark over grievances with reported Swedish, Finnish support for banned Kurdistan Workers' Party

Jens Stoltenberg welcomes membership requests by two countries neighboring Russia at 'crucial moment for our security'

Erdogan points to the nonaligned Nordic countries' alleged support for Kurdish militants as cause of objection; some officials say he is 'pushing up the price' for their membership

PM describes move as 'a historic change in our country’s security policy'; Putin says 'expansion of military infrastructure onto this territory' will lead to a 'response'

West says Russians losing momentum as Britain assesses Moscow has lost a third of its forces; Sweden moves to follow Finland in bid to join Western military alliance

Sweden's ruling Social Democrats to meet Sunday to decide whether to follow suit; Finland's parliament will hold a session on Monday to debate membership proposal

Diplomats meeting in Berlin to discuss new potential members and increasing Ukraine aid; Finland and Sweden already making moves toward joining

In call with Finnish counterpart, Russian president says Nordic nation's abandonment of 'military neutrality' could harm ties between countries

Ankara, which can block new members to alliance, accuses Nordic countries of harboring Kurdish 'terror' groups, as they seek deterrent against Russia

Finnish president tells Moscow to blame itself for Helsinki's decision to seek membership in alliance: 'Look in the mirror'; Kyiv holds war crimes trial for Russian soldier