Mikhail Kasyanov, who served as prime minister under Vladimir Putin in the early 2000s, told DW he believed that the Russian president had "already started to realize that he's losing this war."

Hungary's government is "holding European Union decision makers hostage" by refusing to join an EU-wide embargo on Russian oil, according to Lithuania's foreign minister. This comes as EU leaders continue their efforts to gather support for a sixth sanctions package on Russia from all 27 EU member states. The government of PM Viktor Orban has claimed that an import ban on Russian oil would ruin the Hungarian economy. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tells FRANCE 24 that "Europe is weaker" as a result, and that he is "still hoping Budapest will be responsible in their decisions".

South Ossetia's self-proclaimed government said it was time for the region to "unite once and for all" with Russia. The breakaway republic was at the center of Moscow's military intervention in Georgia in 2008.

The move is a stark U-turn for the country, which held a more neutral stance on the alliance in the past. Sweden is expected to follow suit.

We take a look at how the press is covering Finland and Sweden saying they want to join NATO. We also discuss how the once-fringe, racist ideas of "replacement theory" have seeped through to the US Republican Party, and how they could be behind a shooting that killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York. Finally, we find out about a strange, canine bedfellow.

Sweden's government has decided to reverse decades of security policy and formally join NATO. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced the step. Finland's parliament votes on the same plan later.

Two new prospective members of the 73-year-old NATO alliance have submitted their applications to join. Their bids, which come in light of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, have already faced resistance from Turkey.

While the majority of Swedes are in favor of joining NATO, there are others who even took to the streets in protest. They warn the decision is rushed and that Sweden should better stick with its tradition of neutrality.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has upended its education system. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have shelled over 1,000 schools, fully destroying nearly 100 of them. Not even educational facilities serving as emergency shelters have been spared. Still, teachers across the country are doing what they can to continue to offer a safe education. Among them is Zoya Lytvyn, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and education expert. She joined us for Perspective.

Finland has formally announced its intent to join NATO, marking a monumental shift from a long-held position of military nonalignment. DW reports from the Russian-Finnish border on the dramatic turnaround in popular opinion following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Finland has formally announced its intent to join NATO, marking a monumental shift from a long-held position of military nonalignment. DW reports from the Russian-Finnish border on the dramatic turnaround in popular opinion following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia says it is using a new laser weapon in the Ukraine war: What would such a weapon be capable of, and is there any evidence it exists?