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Ukraine war: NATO to boost Kyiv’s chemical and nuclear defences amid risk a Russian attack could drag alliance into the conflict |

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NATO’s chief has pledged to send more weapons to Ukraine to bolster the alliance’s response to the Russian invasion – as he said it was ready to defend every inch of its territory with more troops on the ground and in the air.

Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation military alliance had also agreed to send equipment to Ukrainians that could help them defend themselves against potential Russian cyber, biological, chemical and nuclear attacks.

“There is also a risk that it (a chemical weapons attack) will have a direct effect on people living in NATO countries,” he said.

Ukraine war live updates: 1,000 indiuals and businesses now sanctioned

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6:46

NATO steps up support for Ukraine

Other key developments:

Ukraine’s navy claims it has destroyed Russia’s large landing support ship Orsk, near the port city of Berdyansk UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announces 65 new Russian sanctions to cut off vital industries fuelling Vladimir Putin’s war machine Russia’s deputy UN ambassador tells Sky News – Moscow would use nuclear weapons if ‘provoked’ The UK has promised to send Ukraine 6,000 defensive missiles consisting of anti-tank and high explosive weapons At least 1,035 Ukrainians have died and a further 1,650 wounded in one month, according to the UN Human Rights Office, while UNICEF says more than 3.6 million Ukrainians have fled the war – half of them children

World leaders are becoming increasingly alarmed by the prospect that Russia may resort to more desperate measures and use outlawed weapons such as chemical agents which could spread across the border into a NATO member state – bringing the war to the alliance.

The NATO secretary general called the conflict the “biggest threat to our security in a generation” and announced a boost in defence spending and the deployment of “four new battle groups” in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

There are already around 40,000 troops spread from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

US President Joe Biden also announced new sanctions “in alignment with the European Union” that would target more than 400 indiuals and entities, including oligarchs and Russian defence companies “that fuel the Russian war machine”.

He said the US would commit more than $1bn (£760m) in humanitarian assistance “to help give relief to millions of Ukrainians affected by the war in Ukraine” and welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.

He said he thinks Russia should be removed from the G20 grouping of major economies and the possibility was discussed with other world leaders.

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1:53

Russian ambassador denies war crimes

Mr Stoltenberg said NATO is “determined to do all we can to support Ukraine” and called on China to refrain from supporting Moscow’s war effort.

“China must not proe economic or military support for Russian invasion. Instead, Beijing should use its significant influence on Russia and promote an immediate peaceful resolution,” he said.

Earlier Mr Zelenskyy told NATO leaders Russian forces would not stop at Ukraine – and next target alliance members in Eastern Europe including Poland.

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7:48

NATO: ‘Putin has made a huge mistake’

“NATO has yet to show what the alliance can do to save people,” the Ukrainian leader said in an impassioned pre-recorded message to the summit – exactly a month on from the start of the Russian invasion.

“The alliance can still prevent the deaths of Ukrainians from Russian strikes, from Russian occupation by giving us all the weapons we need,” he added – listing fighter jets, tanks, and better air defence and anti-ship weaponry.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “we’re very conscious of what he’s asking for” but it was “logistically” very difficult to proe tanks and jets.

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5:54

‘We’ve got to step up’, says PM

He said the missiles and other equipment being proed were more valuable.

Mr Zelenskyy has failed to get Western allies to create a no-fly zone over his country – and the European Union has so far refused to follow the US example of banning Russian oil and gas.

The US is looking for ways to increase the supply of natural gas to Europe to reduce the bloc’s reliance on Russian imports, according to Mr Biden’s national security adviser.

Image:
NATO leaders in Brussels for an emergency summit on the Ukraine war

‘New sense of urgency,’ says NATO chief

Mr Stoltenberg said President Putin had made a “big mistake” and underestimated the “strength and bravery” of the Ukrainian people who with the significant support of its allies are “fighting back the invading Russian army”.

He said there is a “new sense of urgency” about Europe’s defence which is why the presence of NATO troops has been increased on the eastern flank.

But he reiterated there would be no NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine or planes in the air which would increase the risk of a “fully fledged war between NATO and Russia”.

The Kremlin said most NATO member states had a “hysterical and inadequate” understanding of what is going on in Ukraine.

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0:44

Drone captures Mariupol devastation

Is the tide turning for Ukraine?

There are signs Ukraine might be starting to turn the tide against the Russian troops, according to British military intelligence, with the UK’s Ministry of Defence suggesting Russian forces are depleted and “have almost certainly suffered thousands of casualties during their invasion of Ukraine”.

“Russia is likely now looking to mobilise its reservist and conscript manpower, as well as private military companies and foreign mercenaries, to replace these considerable losses,” the MoD said in its latest update. “It is unclear how these groups will integrate into the Russian ground forces in Ukraine and the impact this will have on combat effectiveness.”

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1:46

Zelenskyy calls on world for support

Russia is moving fresh units close to the Ukrainian border, also calling up soldiers who have recently served in Syria.

US intelligence suggests Russian advances towards Kyiv city centre have stopped and Russian forces are now setting up defensive positions around 10 miles away.

Moscow is sending more military equipment to Belarus to boost its efforts to capture the capital, according to Ukraine’s defence ministry.

NATO estimates that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian troops have been killed so far in the war.

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