finnish or swedish territory would provoke a response and for more, we will bring in nina who joins us live. so, this is fascinating, isn t it? because in the first instance, we know that putin, part of the reason he went in and invaded ukraine was because he felt that nato was infringing and en encroaching on russian soil, now this will become a reality if it goes forward. but talk to us about turkey s attempt to block this, and of course, now, sweden joining behind finland to want to be a member of nato? talk to us about that process too? yeah, this is a huge political decision for a country like sweden and also, it s neighbor next door, finland, and it will redraw the security map in this part of europe where right on the baltic sea, which of course is an area that vladimir putin has a foothold
prompting an historic shift in the security map. finland s leaders are expected to formally announce that they want to join nato. saturday vladimir putin warned that it would be a mistake, but finland says it is aimed at bolstering its own security, not inflaming tensions with moscow. our president called to inform that finland is now proceeding towards nato membership. our parliament will discuss this item on monday and it is very likely that there is a strong majority in our parliament also supporting the nato membership. we have 1300 kilometer border with russia and we want to maintain it peacefully. it is important that we communicate with our neighbor. and foreign ministers from
security map. nato and sweden is expected to make a similar announcement soon. neighboring ministers gathering on what s known a final photo for talks. they are ready for finland and sweden to join the alliance as quickly as possible. that s a major blow for russian president vladimir putin who long claimed the expansion of nato is a threat to russia s security. finland is trying to bolster their own security and not trying to in flame tensions with moscow. we ll continue to bring you these live as soon as they get underway. for more now let s bring in nic roberston from helsinki. you are at the palace there. really a seismic announcement we
new nato members would redraw the security map and expand along russia s border the alliance putin hoped to weaken with his assault on ukraine. we begin our coverage with h helsinki and nic robertson. this is the opposite of what vladimir putin wants. reporter: completely the opposite. and it s momentous. this is the geopolitical realignment of the post world war ii era. certainly post soviet. what the prime minister and the president today said in a very short two paragraph statement, you know, given the momentous nature of it, it s almost understated, but very simply that finland is safer by joining nato. that it gets better security. that nato itself will become more secure and stronger if finland joins, and that these decisions should happen without delay. and we re learning from government officials now that
marriages have been taking i place in massachusetts. god bless america! cheering hello, you are watching bbc news with me, david eades. the latest headlines: anti government protestors defy a nationwide curfew in sri lanka, calling for the country s president to step aside. the head of the world health organization has said china s zero tolerance policy against covid is not sustainable. it s widely expected that finland will begin the process ofjoining the nato alliance this week. finland becoming a nato member would significantly redraw the security map of europe and the prospect is already viewed with undisguised hostility in moscow. from finland, our special correspondent, allan little, sent this report, which