Russians fight to encircle Ukraine's last eastern stronghold

KREMENCHUK, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces battled Wednesday to surround the Ukrainian military’s last stronghold in a long-contested eastern province, as shock reverberated from a Russian airstrike on a shopping mall that killed at least 18 in the center of the country two days earlier. ...

Live updates | Italy sees no NATO military escalation

MADRID (AP) — The Latest on the NATO summit in Madrid: ___ Italian Premier Mario Draghi says plans for an increased U.S. military presence in Europe don’t amount to a military escalation within NATO. Draghi says the increase announced Wednesday by...

NATO calls Russia its 'most significant and direct threat'

MADRID (AP) — NATO declared Russia the “most significant and direct threat” to its members’ peace and security, as the military alliance met Wednesday to confront what NATO’s chief called the biggest security crisis since World War II. It also promised to “step up...

EXPLAINER: How was Turkey’s veto of Nordic NATO bid avoided?

ISTANBUL (AP) — When the leaders of Finland, Sweden and Turkey met with NATO’s chief Tuesday, the potential for progress was hard to predict. Some remained pessimistic the meeting would lessen Turkey’s objections to the Nordic pair’s historic request to join NATO. The...

Russian lawmaker: Baltic exclave blockade may fuel conflict

MOSCOW (AP) — Lithuania’s refusal to allow some goods targeted by European Union sanctions through to Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad could trigger a military confrontation, a senior Russian lawmaker warned Wednesday. Vladimir Dzhabarov, a deputy head of the foreign...

US to boost military presence in Europe for Russia threat

MADRID (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. will significantly increase its military presence in Europe for the long haul, including by establishing its first permanent presence in Poland, to bolster regional security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Meeting...

In summit declaration, NATO calls Russia 'most significant and direct threat' to Euro-Atlantic peace and stability

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges NATO allies to deliver more weapons to help his country fight Russia

At NATO, Biden says US will enhance military presence in Europe to send message that alliance is ‘strong and united’

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance faces its biggest challenge since World War II