"NATO Summit: Russian Warnings, Ukraine's Membership, and Baltic Threats"

As NATO leaders gather in Lithuania to discuss Ukraine's desire to join the alliance, Russia has issued warnings and threats, objecting to Ukrainian membership. Russian officials, including the spokesperson of the foreign ministry and the foreign minister, have expressed concerns about NATO's intentions to weaken Russia and protect their own security interests. While there is broad consensus among NATO members to support Ukraine's future membership, some states emphasize that it can only be considered after Russia's war ends. The two-day summit focuses on countering Moscow's aggression in Ukraine, with discussions on sending a clear message on Ukraine's path towards membership. The US and its allies are considering sending more arms and equipment to Ukrainian forces, which Russia sees as a lack of interest in peace talks. Ukraine, already de facto in the alliance, formally applied for NATO membership last September.