RED MISSED
THERE have been calls for Nato to intervene as Russia invades Ukraine.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has condemned the attacks on Ukraine - but what does this have to do with Russia?
1
Is Russia part of Nato?
Russia is not a member of Nato.
The organisation has over 30 member countries but this does not include Russia.
There have been partnerships between Nato and the Russian Federation in the 90s.
A Russia-Nato council was established in 2002 for security issues and joint projects.
This was suspended in 2014 in the response to the Russian annexation of Crimea.
Discussions were continued until 2021 when Nato expelled eight Russian officials from its headquarters.
After this Russia closed the Moscow Nato office and ended all communications.
latest from Russia
What is Nato?
The acronym stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Most read in The Sun
This is an alliance between 30 countries - 28 of which are European.
The idea is that all members agree to mutual defence of each other.
If one Nato country is under attack, all members must come to their aid where possible.
Members can issue Article 4 if they feel they are under attack, this means that all other nations must enter talks to assess the risk.
Who is in Nato?
Nato currently has 30 members but there are others waiting for recognition or participating in Nato's Partnership for Peace programme.
Ukraine is recognised by Nato as an aspiring member but Russian President Vladimir Putin asked for a legally binding denial of Ukraine as a member.
This was before launching his invasion of Ukraine, which had they been a member would have had the weight of Nato behind them, automatically.
Nato members are as follows:
- Albania
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Turkey
- The United Kingdom
- The United States
READ MORE SUN STORIES
As a neighbour of Ukraine, Poland and other members have already asked for an Article 4 discussion concerning Russia.
The combined power of all members military strength equates to about 57% of worldwide military spending.
All you need to know about Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Everything you need to know about Russia's invasion of Ukraine...
- Why is Russia invading Ukraine?
- Will the UK go to war?
- How can I join the Ukraine foreign legion?
- What can I do to help Ukraine?
- Who is Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
- How much gas does the UK get from Russia?
- Is Russia a part of Nato?
- Does Russia have nuclear weapons?
- Why is Ukraine not in Nato?
- How big is the Russian army?
- What is Article 5 of the Nato treaty?
- What is the Minsk agreement?
- Which countries were in the Soviet Union?
- What does the Z mean on Russian tanks? Meaning behind symbols explained