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Nato has said Ukraine is on an “irreversible path” towards future membership, and has promised more aid.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden were among world leaders pledging their support for Ukraine at the Nato summit in Washington DC.
In a speech to mark the 75th anniversary of the military alliance, Mr Biden said it was “more powerful than ever”.
What is Nato and why was it set up?
Nato – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.
Its founding treaty was signed in Washington DC, and leaders of Nato countries marked the anniversary on the first day of the Washington summit, 9 July.
Image source, Getty Images
Nato’s primary purpose was to block expansion in Europe by the Soviet Union – a group of communist republics which included Russia.
Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises.
Which countries are Nato members?
Nato has 32 members across Europe and North America, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
After the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Finland – which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia -…
