NATO and the EU have vowed to ramp up cooperation to back Ukraine, which is fighting a war with Russia.

The Biden administration is privately encouraging Ukraine’s leaders to signal an openness to negotiate with Russia, the Washington Post reports.

NATO says it has no plans to deploy troops and infrastructure to Sweden and Finland once the two Nordic countries become a member of the Western military alliance, as the process to ratify Sweden and Finland as the newest members of the 30-member bloc has been formally launched.

Amid growing friction, China has called on the NATO military alliance to avoid attempts to start a new Cold War, describing its expansion to the Asian-Pacific region as dangerous.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have warned that the war in Ukraine could last years.

Russian forces continue to push for full control of the breakaway Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as the military operation completes 100 days.

Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for membership in NATO, raising the expectation that both countries will join the military alliance despite Moscow’s warnings.

NATO countries have planned for a permanent military presence on the alliance’s eastern border in an effort to contain future Russian military actions, says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ukraine has called on members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide Kiev with all the weaponry it needs to fight Russia, as Moscow continues a military offensive against the country.

Western leaders have stepped up pressure on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine, agreeing to increase military aid to Kiev and tighten their sanctions on Moscow.