Updates – War in Ukraine

Sweden and Finland Invited

NATO formally invited Sweden and Finland to join its alliance Wednesday, a historic expansion of the defense bloc that directly undercuts Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aims as his war in Ukraine grinds on.

Putin issued a fresh warning over the countries’ bids to join NATO, saying that while Russia would not be bothered by the two countries joining the bloc, it would “respond symmetrically” to any military or infrastructure buildup.

Separately, Putin denied Moscow was behind a strike on a shopping center in Ukraine that killed at least 18 people, with dozens missing and wounded. “The Russian army does not attack any civilian site,” he claimed.

Russia’s Defense Ministry previously said it hit military targets but video from the city of Kremenchuk shows the mall being obliterated by a missile.