Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. president Joe Biden met with the leaders of Sweden & Finland after they renounced their neutrality in the wake of Russia’s invasion. They decided to become NATO members.

Hours before his first trip to Asia as president, Biden will sit down with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the White House to discuss their NATO applications.

“This historic event is a pivotal moment for European security. Jake Sullivan, White House national security advisor, stated that two nations who have a history of neutrality would join the most powerful defense alliance in the world.

Biden made it a priority to unite Europe against Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Turkey is questioning the inclusion Finland and Sweden in NATO. They asked Sweden to halt its support of Kurdish militants that it regards as terrorists and to allow both sides to lift their bans regarding arms sales to Turkey.

Sullivan said Wednesday to reporters that the U.S. is confident Turkey will be addressed. Any new entry must be approved and authorized by the 30 NATO member countries.

Biden is meeting with Congress to seek approval for $40 billion of U.S. aid to Ukraine for weapons and humanitarian assistance until September.

U.S. officials stated Wednesday that intelligence collected by the United States shows some Russian officials know of abuses against Ukrainians living in Mariupol.

The official cited declassified intelligence to say that “some Russian officials recognize, even though they claim to be liberators’ in the Russian-speaking town of Mariupol. Russian forces are performing grievous abuses inside the city including beating city officials and electrocuting them.”

Russian officials are concerned that these violations “may further inspire Mariupol residents resist Russian occupation,” said the official.

The Kremlin failed to respond immediately to a request to comment, and Reuters could not verify this intelligence claim.