NATO marks its 75th birthday as Russia’s war in Ukraine gnaws at its unity

By LORNE COOK and MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO is celebrating its 75th anniversary as Russia’s war on Ukraine corrodes its unity and resolve. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts on Thursday marked the moment NATO’s founding treaty was signed on this date in 1949. Sweden took part in a meeting of NATO ministers for the first time since joining last month. Russia’s war pushed it and Finland to seek protection among the organization’s ranks. Ukraine has made a fresh appeal for Patriot missile systems. Blinken says the “allies will do everything that they can to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to continue to deal with Russia’s ongoing aggression.”