Ukraine's defence minister says he hopes to arm a million fighters as the country prepares for a "new, long phase of war"
The arrival of foreign weapons and "stimulating Ukrainian producers" will help further tip the balance against Russia, Oleksiy Reznikov says
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Images from the scene show dozens of burnt-out tanks after Ukrainian forces shelled the temporary structures
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The first alleged war crime case since the conflict began has started in Ukraine's capital Kyiv
Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin, 21, faces possible life imprisonment on charges of war crimes and premeditated murder
Sophie Williams
Reporting from Lviv
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has commended Finland for its "readiness to apply for Nato membership".
Writing on social media just now, Zelensky said he had spoken with President Sauli Niinisto and discussed "Ukraine's European integration".
It's thought that the Finnish government is likely to apply for membership after receiving parliamentary approval next week.
Finland's announcement comes as European lawmakers debate the issue.
The EU's standing rapporteur on Ukraine, Michael Gahler, said Finland's accession to Nato was testament to western unity.
He said: "This signal that comes from Finland, and probably soon from Sweden as well, is also a signal to the rest of the world that the West is not backtracking, that we are united and that we have the best intention to come out of this war stronger than before.
"Because that is definitely the attitude of the rest of the world - to watch whether after Afghanistan and other setbacks for the West, the West yet again would come out weakened and retreated - and that is definitely something that we need to avoid.
Quote MessageWe need to sustain and strengthen the zone of freedom and democracy because that is what this is it about.
Frank Gardner
BBC Security Correspondent in Estonia
Putin’s warnings to Finland not to join Nato appear to have failed. His invasion of Ukraine has triggered the exact thing he fears most: further enlargement of Nato right up to Russia’s borders.
So how could he respond?
We have more from Elina Valtonen, Finnish MP and member of the opposition, on how Finland views the security situation with regards to Russia.
"We do feel a threat from Russia, I don't think that threat ever went away entirely. Finland never took the step of diminishing its defence forces, we have always taken security very seriously. We are very much focused on defending ourselves. But of course, we would like to do that together with our close partners and allies hopefully in the future," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We share the same values, we are a western country, Finland has been a stable democracy for over 100 years and it's just the natural step to take."
About the pledge made by Boris Johnson of military help in case of incursion into Finland, she says:
Quote MessageBut vice versa, Finland is also there to help Britain if there's anything that threatens our security and our values.
Image source, ReutersA pier for a planned floating LNG gas terminal in the harbour in Wilhelmshaven, northern Germany
Germany may be able to cope with a boycott of Russian gas imports as early as this coming winter, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has said.
He told the WirtschaftsWoche weekly on Thursday that Berlin had stepped up efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy supplies, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
But Habeck added that Germany would most likely still be largely dependent on Russian gas until some time in 2024.
"If we have full storage facilities at the turn of the year, if two of the four floating LNG (liquified natural gas) tankers we have leased are connected to the grid and if we make significant energy savings, we can to some extent get through the winter if Russian gas supplies collapse," the minister said.
Elina Valtonen, who is a Finnish MP and vice-president of the National Coalition Party - the opposition party in Finland - says this is a historic move for her country.
"We've been partnering with Nato for a very long time, but clearly taking a step [towards] becoming members, sending the membership application, that's a [historic] move for us," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
So what is next for Finland?
"In parliament, as we speak, the foreign affairs committee is preparing a report on the change to the security environment around Finland and Sweden, and probably during the weekend we will conclude that Finland should join Nato. And after that - probably next week - the government will be able to proceed with the application," says Valtonen, who is also a member of the foreign affairs committee.
Finland would strengthen the alliance with its "strong defence forces" and a conscripted army, she says. Together with its reserves it has one of the strongest armies in Europe, she adds.
James Reynolds
Reporting from Lappeenranta
Image source, Getty ImagesIncoming traffic to Finland at the Nuijamaa border station between Finland and Russia in Lappeenranta, March 2020
The quiet streets tell the story of the change of life in this border region.
In normal times, Russian tourists would be here to enjoy the arrival of spring – to sail on Lake Saimaa. But Russians and Finns have largely stopped crossing the border.
Finland is about to join Nato. It is a strategic change.
But Finland has always been realistic about life next to its powerful, sometimes threatening, neighbour.
This comes from family stories passed down about the winter war in 1939-1940, in which the Soviet Union invaded and eventually took and kept about 10% of Finnish territory.
You see the realism in continued conscription into the military and in bomb shelters at the ready.
Finland will soon be a Nato territory - doubling the length of the Nato-Russia border.
It means that Nato will only be a two to three-hour drive to St Petersburg – the home city of Vladimir Putin.
The very thing that Putin has sought for years to prevent – Nato expansion – is the very thing he has now brought about.
Katya Adler
BBC Europe Editor reporting from Helsinki
This is a massive geopolitical shift for Finland. For decades it’s opted to work alongside, rather than inside Nato - until Russia invaded Ukraine.
Public support for Nato membership has shot up, galvanising a political push to join - here in Finland as well as in neighbouring Sweden - though the hurdles to apply for membership there are a little more complex.
Finland's president and prime minister said today that Nato membership would strengthen their country’s security, as well as bolster the alliance itself.
Finland has a well-equipped, sophisticated military. It also shares an 800 mile (1300 km) long border with Russia.
Image source, .
Image source, Getty ImagesWe're hearing from a number of countries expressing support for Finland's move. Now Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says Denmark will welcome Finland in Nato and will work to process the bid quickly.
She says the decision "will strengthen Nato and our common security," and "Denmark will do everything for a quick admission process after the formal application".
Image source, European Pressphoto AgencyHaavisto taking part in a recent debate on the possibility of joining Nato
Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has also been speaking and says Russia's invasion of Ukraine has changed Finland's security situation, but adds there is no immediate threat.
In the wake of Finland's announcement about joining Nato, he has also said the country's accession to Nato would strengthen both the alliance and security in the Baltic Sea region, Reuters news agency reports.
Image source, Getty ImagesFinnish public support for joining Nato was for years at around 20-25%. But since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it has shot up to a record high of 76%, external, according to the latest opinion poll.
While military non-alignment and neutrality has long been the stance among many Finns, as a way of staying out of conflicts, the war led to an increasing number of Finns viewing friendly relations with Russia as an empty phrase.
Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent
Estonia has welcomed the likely accession of Sweden and Finland to Nato but has warned of long-term Russian preparations for an attack on the Baltic states.
Senior officials at Estonia’s Defence Ministry have called for further Nato reinforcements including an urgent need for air defence units.
Image source, AFPThe prime minister and president pictured at a recent press conference
This is the full statement from Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
Quote MessageDuring this spring, an important discussion on Finland's possible Nato membership has taken place. Time has been needed to let parliament and the whole society establish their stands on the matter. Time has been needed for close international contacts with Nato and its member countries, as well as with Sweden. We have wanted to give the discussion the space it required. Now that the moment of decision-making is near, we state our equal views, also for information to the parliamentary groups and parties. Nato membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of Nato, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.
As we're reporting, Finland has just said it's in favour of applying to join Nato.
A few steps remain before the application process can begin - a special committee will announce Finland's formal decision on a membership bid on Sunday. But it has wide support from other Nato members.
Neighbouring Sweden is expected to make a decision on joining the defensive alliance in the coming days.
Finland should submit an application to join the Nato military alliance, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement on Thursday.
"Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay," Niinisto and Marin said.
This is a major policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Finland, which shares a 1,300 km (810 mile) border and a difficult past with Russia, has previously remained outside the alliance.
Image source, Getty ImagesA Finnish soldier takes part in a military exercise
If you're just joining us this morning, the government of Finland is about to announce whether it will apply to join Nato - abandoning its traditionally neutral stance.
Support for such a move has grown sharply in Finland and neighbouring Sweden since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has threatened unspecified measures if the governments in Helsinki and Stockholm abandon their longstanding policy of military non-alignment.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised military support for Finland and Sweden during a visit on Wednesday.
The Nato security alliance was founded in 1949, when a world war had given way to the Cold War.
The bloc aimed to counter Soviet expansion in Europe, and crucially, its founder members - the UK and US among them - agreed to come to each other's aid should one of them come under attack.
Nato expanded following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Eastern European countries who were once members of the rival Warsaw Pact decided to join.
In recent years, there were questions over Nato's future. Former US President Donald Trump was a critic while French President Emmanuel Macron called the alliance "brain dead". But with Russia's invasion of Ukraine Nato has been given a new importance.
One of Russia's primary concerns before the conflict was the prospect of Ukraine joining Nato.
Ukraine has since cooled on its plans to join the security bloc. However it does now seem increasingly likely that Nato will be expanding anyway, with Finland poised to say it intends to join and Sweden likely to follow soon after.
In Finland's case, that would mean Russia sharing a long land border with another Nato member.
On Wednesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Russia's President Vladimir Putin was to blame. "You caused this," he said. "Look in the mirror."
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we await news on Finland's plans with regards to Nato, it's worth looking at what this would mean for the country.
In short, joining Nato would mean a monumental shift in stance. The Nordic nation adopted neutrality following a bitter defeat by the Soviet Union during World War Two.
In some ways, not much would change. Sweden and Finland became official partners of Nato in 1994 and have since become major contributors to the alliance.
They have taken part in several Nato missions since the end of the Cold War.
But a major change would be the application of Nato's "Article 5", which views an attack on one member state as an attack on all. For the first time, Finland and Sweden - which is also considering a plan to join - would have security guarantees from nuclear states.
Joe Inwood
BBC News, Lviv
Meanwhile in Ukraine - Kharkiv has been pounded by Russian artillery for 70 days. But that may almost be coming to an end.
Ukrainian troops around the country's second city have pushed Russian forces so far back that their artillery is no longer in range of its centre.
The latest place to be liberated was the village of Pytomnyk - announced by the Ukrainian military yesterday.
But, Russian forces are not in full-blown retreat - as was seen around Kyiv.
They are believed to be reinforcing with a number of battalion tactical groups - an attempt to secure their supply lines.
Any forces taken from the eastern Donbas region will only slow their advances there - in a fight that already appears to be turning into a bloody stalemate.