What is Nato and when will Ukraine join?

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Nato, the West's defensive alliance, has confirmed Ukraine can join, but has not said when.

Speaking during the Nato summit in Lithuania, the Ukrainian President Zelensky said the lack of clarity was "unprecedented and absurd".

Which countries are in Nato?

Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.

The organisation has two official languages, English and French. In French, the alliance is known as Otan, Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord.

It currently has 31 members across Europe and North America.

They agree to help one another if they are attacked.

Nato's original goal was to block Soviet expansion in Europe after World War Two.

After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined the alliance: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Will Ukraine join Nato?

Nato said in 2008 that Ukraine could join at a future date, but declined its September 2022 request for "fast-track" membership.

Under article 5 of Nato's charter, if one member is attacked, the others must come to its defence.

Were Ukraine to join during the current conflict with Russia, all Nato member countries would also have to declare war on Russia.

At the Vilnius summit in July, Nato said that it will invite Ukraine to become a member "when allies agree and conditions are met".

It also said that Ukraine could skip a step in the entry process called the Membership Action Plan.

However, Nato has not set out a timeframe for Ukraine's entry.

Ukrainian President Zelensky accepts his country cannot join Nato while it is at war with Russia, but wants it to happen as soon as possible after fighting ends: "Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger."

Russia has consistently and strongly opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory.

Nato shows Ukraine it can't get everything it wants

Which other countries are joining Nato?

Sweden applied to join Nato in April 2022, along with Finland.

Finland has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia. Both countries were concerned about growing Russian aggression following the Ukrainian invasion.

Finland joined Nato in April 2023, but for many months Turkey and Hungary refused to approve Sweden's application.

Turkey accused it of hosting its enemies, including pro-Kurdish groups.

However, before the latest summit, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden had addressed "Turkey's legitimate security concerns", and that the Turkish government would ask its parliament to approve membership.

He said Hungary would do the same.

However, it is not known when the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments will vote, or when Sweden might officially be admitted.

Sweden hails historic step as Turkey backs Nato bid

How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to Nato

What weapons are Nato countries supplying to Ukraine?

The US is sending Ukraine cluster bombs - weapons containing so-called "bomblets" which explode across a wide area.

The bombs are controversial, because of the harm they might do to civilians.

The US is also supplying Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks. The UK has sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks, while Germany and other Nato countries have donated dozens of Leopard 2 tanks.

The US and UK have provided missiles such as Himars, which have been used to hit targets behind Russia's front lines.

A Himars launcher under tree cover in eastern Ukraine

Nato countries are also supplying air defence systems to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and drones over Ukraine.

The US has said it will support the delivery of American fighter jets, such as F-16s, to Ukraine by Nato allies. Nato countries are teaching Ukrainian pilots how to fly them.

However, the US is not providing its longer-range missiles, called Advanced Tactical Missile Systems. It thinks these could be used to attack targets inside Russia - which could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and the West.

For the same reason, Nato countries are not sending troops to Ukraine, nor using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone.

At the Nato summit, the G7 members ratified a wide-ranging security pact with Ukraine, which will deliver more defence equipment, training and intelligence sharing.

What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?

What is Nato's defence plan against Russia?

Nato commanders have agreed a new plan for countering Russian aggression.

It spells out how forces should be deployed if Russia attacks in any of three zones: the Arctic and north Atlantic; central Europe; or the Mediterranean region.

Nato currently has 40,000 troops which can be mobilised at short notice. There is a proposal to have 300,000 troops ready for action within 30 days.

Nato also wants member countries to update their military equipment, to stockpile more ammunition, and to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence.