Image source, Reuters

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said Swedish and Finnish delegations should not bother to come to Turkey.

The incumbent members of Nato said earlier on Monday that they would send diplomats to Turkey to try to overcome the country's objections to their plan to join the military alliance.

But President Erdogan has stated Turkey will not approve their bids to join Nato.

He has labelled Sweden a "hatchery" for terrorist organisations, claiming there are terrorists within parliament.

Turkey accuses Sweden and Finland of sheltering people it says are linked to groups it deems terrorists, namely the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and followers of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating the 2016 coup attempt against President Erdogan and his government.

Maddy Savage
BBC News, Stockholm

Image source, EPA

Whether or not to join Nato is a question that’s divided Swedes for decades.

Despite public support for membership growing rapidly since the start of the Ukraine conflict, recent polls still suggested at least 40% of voters were either against the idea or not sure about it.

But Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson’s decision to go ahead with membership has neither triggered a major outpouring of celebration nor a wall of criticism from most Swedes.

There are no parties on the streets here, and just a small group of protesters gathered outside the Swedish parliament during the announcement.

That could be down to high levels of trust in Swedish authorities, the fact it can be taboo to speak out publicly if you’re against the political consensus, or - as the politicians hope - a growing sense of unity that membership is essential in order to protect both Swedish citizens and security in the region.

The Swedish media is certainly working hard to educate Swedes about the potential ramifications. News sites are packed with explainer articles detailing the application process and what being part of the military alliance will mean for Sweden’s future.

At least 10 civilians have been killed by Russian shelling in the city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine today, the governor of Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, has said.

Haidai said that heavy shelling had caused fires in residential areas in the region, damaging houses and hospitals and hitting a scientific production plant.

Russia has shifted most of the focus of its war to eastern Ukraine, after pulling back its forces from near the capital Kyiv.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims.

Image source, .

Jonathan Beale
BBC defence correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Britain’s most senior military officer says Ukraine is winning the war and had already "guaranteed" its survival.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also described Sweden and Finland’s applications to join Nato as "further victories for Ukraine" in its war with Russia.

Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, said: "It's clear Ukraine is winning and Putin is losing."

"Ukraine is winning because Ukraine is in an existential fight for the survival… and it is going to survive." Radakin said its future as an independent country was now guaranteed.

He added that victory for Ukraine went much further than what was happening on the battlefield. He said Ukraine was on "the front line of the defence of global rules and global values".

He also said that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's direction to him was that Putin must fail.

Image source, EVN

One of the biggest-ever Nato exercises in the Baltics is now under way. Named "Hedgehog", the drills involve 10 countries, including Finland and Sweden, which are expected to formally apply to join the alliance within days.

The exercises in Estonia, which will last until 3 June, were arranged before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has said Russia has no issue with Finland or Sweden, but a military expansion near its border would demand a reaction.

Nato has said the aim of the exercises is to "enhance the readiness and interoperability" of its forces.

Some 15,000 troops are involved in the exercise in Estonia, making it one of the largest military drills held in the country since 1991.

The exercise is taking place 64km (40 miles) from Russia's nearest military base. It is intended to simulate an attack from Russia on Estonia.

Read more on this story here

Olga Malchevska
Reporting from Kharkiv

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, Ukrainian officials say their forces have managed to push Russian troops back in the area around the city of Kharkiv.

For the last few weeks, the Ukrainian army has retaken around a dozen villages in and around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, making it harder for Russia to attack.

Despite that, we can still hear the sound of blasts from time to time. And the air raid sirens are still being used quite often.

According to local administrations, four more people were wounded today due to Russian shelling in the city. Another two were injured in surrounding villages.

As far as the atmosphere in the city goes, it's still tense. It's very different to pre-war life and while Kharkiv is getting back to normal, it's happening slowly.

Paul Adams
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Clearly Russia isn’t happy about Finland and Sweden joining Nato.

But Putin said this dramatic step represents “no direct threat” to Russia, and his latest comments contained some important nuance.

Only the expansion of Nato military infrastructure, he said, would provoke a response.

In some ways, the fact that two highly capable military powers have joined the Western alliance changes little on the ground.

But a quick glance at the map shows that Russia’s Kola Peninsula, bristling with naval bases and missile silos, lies just 100 miles (160km) from the border with Finland.

And the home of Russia’s Baltic Fleet, Kaliningrad, which is already sandwiched between Nato members Poland and Lithuania, will soon have another Nato neighbour, Sweden, watching it from across the sea.

The Baltic Sea is about to become a Nato lake.

Putin realises – belatedly perhaps – that there’s nothing he can do to stop the two Nordic countries from joining Nato.

But he’s warning the alliance not to go further, by placing missiles or creating permanent bases in either country.

Such moves are unlikely. Sweden and Finland are already well-established Nato partners, with armed forces that are already highly “interoperable” with their Nato counterparts.

Image source, .

As we've been reporting, Ukrainian officials say troops defending the northern city of Kharkiv, have pushed Russian troops back and even reached as far as the border with Russia.

Now, a senior US defence official has given an assessment of the situation, saying Ukrainian forces have pushed back Russian troops to within three to four kilometress (1.9-2.5 miles) of the Russian border, Reuters reported.

Earlier today, a group of those soldiers were pictured alongside a restored border sign in the colours of the Ukrainian flag - having reportedly reached the frontier with Russia.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims.

Image source, .

Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia editor

Image source, EPA

As we reported earlier, McDonald's has said it will exit the Russian market and has started a process to sell its business in the country after 30 years of operating its restaurants there.

It really is the end of an era.

I was in the queue when the first Russian McDonald’s opened on Moscow’s Pushkin Square in January 1990 – way back in the USSR.

There were so many people outside the restaurant, it took three hours to get inside. But what a sense of excitement. Those American burgers, fries and pies were a symbol of Moscow embracing the West.

Hot food to help end a Cold War.

These are very different times. Russia and the West have lost their appetite for one another.

Russia's attack on Ukraine has sparked international condemnation and sanctions, turning Moscow into a pariah. Meanwhile, the Kremlin accuses the West of plotting Russia’s downfall.

• Read Steve Rosenberg's report on changes brought about by the war in Ukraine

Just joining or need a catch-up? Here are the latest developments from the war in Ukraine:

Sweden

• Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson has confirmed that Sweden will apply for Nato membership, upending a long history of military neutrality
• She said that Sweden will be in a vulnerable position while its Nato application is being processed
• However, she says Sweden does not want permanent Nato military bases or nuclear weapons on its territory if its membership is approved
• Norway, Denmark and Iceland have issued a joint pledge to their "Nordic neighbours", offering them support should they come under attack before their respective applications have been processed

Kharkiv

• Ukrainian troops defending the northern city of Kharkiv have reportedly reached the state border with Russia, after driving opposition forces away from its second-largest city
• Ukraine's defence ministry posted a video showing a number of soldiers gathered around a yellow-and-blue-painted border demarcation post
• President Zelensky has sent a message of thanks to Ukrainian soldiers who have driven back Russian troops

Elsewhere...

• McDonald's has said it'll exit the Russian market and has started a process to sell its business in the country after 30 years of operating its restaurants there

Image source, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Russia's Ministry of Defence is claiming to have reached an agreement with Ukraine for wounded soldiers to be evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

State-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti, external is reporting that, under the terms of the agreement, soldiers who are currently trapped in the steel plant will be taken to a hospital in Russian-controlled territory.

No one on the Ukrainian side has so far confirmed the reports.

Earlier we told you how food and water are becoming increasingly scarce at the site, where hundreds of Ukrainian servicemen are sheltering in bunkers underground, defending the only remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the port city, which is now under Russian control.

Image source, .

Image source, Reuters

President Zelesky has sent a message of thanks to Ukrainian soldiers who have driven Russian troops out of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city.

Ukrainian forces have been retaking territory in north-eastern areas in recent days, pushing the Russians out of artillery range of the city, which had endured weeks of bombardment.

Earlier today a group of those soldiers were pictured alongside a restored border sign - in the colours of the Ukrainian flag - having reportedly reached the frontier with Russia.

"The 227th battalion of the 127th territorial defence brigade of Ukraine! Thank you very much!" said Zelensky, in a video posted on Instagram.

"From all Ukrainians, from everyone, from myself and from my family. My gratitude has no borders," he continued.

"I wish you all health, and take care of yourself,"

He concluded, in traditional style: "Glory to Ukraine!"

Sophie Williams and Olga Pona
Reporting from Lviv

Image source, Reuters

Oleh Synyehubov, governor of Kharkiv regional administration has confirmed to the BBC that Ukrainian troops have pushed Russian forces to the border in one area.

"We are fighting 24/7 so it's hard to say whether it's a permanent result for our troops," he said.

"We experience Russian conquering from different sides, one kilometre to the right or left, we still have severe fighting."

Synyehubov said he could not confirm how many Ukrainian fighters have reached the border but confirmed a video that had been circulating on telegram of soldiers celebrating and said that there were many more troops that were not pictured.

He said that the hotspot of the fighting is in the Izyum direction, a city that is currently occupied by the Russians.

"Izyum is totally blocked, there is no any possibility to held the evacuation process and provide humanitarian aid for civilians," he said.

Synyehubov claimed that Russians are losing huge number of personnel, armoured vehicles and aircraft.

Image source, .

James Waterhouse
Reporting from Kyiv

Image source, EPA

We are seeing Russia's goals continue to shrink and move. On 24 February, Putin wanted to take all of this country, to topple President Zelensky and his government but in the 82 days since, this war shifted eastwards.

We are seeing videos this morning, seemingly posted by Ukrainian forces on the Russian border in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, shouting: "Here we are, Mr President."

That suggests that Russians there have been forced out of artillery range from Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, a city that has come under almost continued attack throughout this invasion.

The Russians have moved south to the Donbas region in the east, which Vladimir Putin has said is now his priority.

Military experts say they have even abandoned their goal of trying to encircle defending Ukrainian troops in the area.

The Russians keep shrinking their ambitions but they are still mounting a number of assaults along the front line in this sizeable land corridor that they now occupy.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Reactions are continuing to pour in after Sweden confirmed it would follow in Finland's footsteps and apply for membership to Nato.

Norway, Denmark and Iceland issued a joint pledge to their "Nordic neighbours", offering them support should they come under attack before their respective applications have been processed.

Jonas Gahr Stoere, Norway's prime minister, said in a statement:

Image source, Getty Images

Joining Nato would mean a monumental shift in stance for Sweden, as the country has been militarily neutral for 200 years.

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 Sweden, and Finland - which confirmed on Sunday it would formally apply for membership - would have security guarantees from nuclear states.

Read more here.

Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson says Europe and Sweden "are living now in a new and dangerous reality".

Andersson has just announced that Sweden will be applying to join Nato, during a press conference.

However, she says Sweden does not want permanent Nato military bases or nuclear weapons on its territory if its membership is approved.

Maddy Savage
Reporting from Stockholm

Image source, EPA

It’s rare to see Sweden’s two largest parties holding a joint news conference, and in such agreement, especially just months before a general election.

But Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Ulf Kristersson, leader of the largest opposition party, the centre-right Moderates, clearly wanted to send out a message that Sweden is united when it comes to its Nato application.

Andersson suggested it was the end of an era for her country and said she was confident that the Swedish public supported her decision.

Kristersson argued it wasn’t a time for party politics, but couldn’t contain his excitement that a policy his party has been pushing for for two decades is finally coming into fruition.

Their news conference followed a three-hour special debate in the Swedish parliament earlier on Monday.

There wasn’t a vote, but this was an important chance for opposition parties to express their views before the government’s final decision on Nato membership.

Although most offered strong support for the decision, the Left Party and the Greens remain opposed to the application.

Image source, Reuters

"We are leaving one era and beginning another," Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson tells a press conference after announcing the country will be applying for join Nato.

Sweden and Finland have both expressed a desire to file their Nato applications together.

"We expect it shouldn't take more than a year" for the alliance's 30 members to unanimously ratify Sweden's membership application, Andersson adds.

Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson is still speaking on the country's application to join Nato.

A date for the formal application is still unclear because Sweden will send in its application together with Finland, she says.

She adds that she does not see any direct military threat against Sweden yet.

Ulf Kristersson, leader of the opposition Moderate party, is also speaking at the press conference.

He also backs the decision to apply for Nato membership.

"This is a historic decision", he says.

It's not about party politics but about taking joint responsibility for the country's security, he adds.