What a new NATO could look like

Finland formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,  the world's largest military alliance, on Tuesday. Sweden, which also applied for NATO membership along with Finland in May 2022, is still waiting to win approval. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expects that to happen in the coming weeks.

Hi, it's Julius with an update on Russia-Ukraine and other top world stories.

If NATO were to also add Sweden, the alliance would have its military assets bolstered and its boundaries expanded. The addition would increase the number of opponents Russia would face if it invaded a NATO member. Article 5 of the alliance says an attack on one member is an attack against all.

Finland and Sweden would also boost NATO's military resources. Finland's artillery is among the largest in Europe, while Sweden's air force is backed by Gripen fighter jets and a navy.

The expansion would also reinforce the eastern edge of the alliance and increase NATO's presence around the Baltic Sea. Finland shares a land border of 832 miles with Russia.

More on the Ukraine-Russia crisis

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the legal process to formally determine Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention in Russia would be completed soon, elevating his case with the Biden administration.
• The U.S. will send Ukraine about $500 million in ammunition and equipment and will spend more than $2 billion to buy an array of munitions, radar and other weapons in the future, Blinken said in a statement.
• French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a Chinese diplomat downplayed the growing ties between his country and Russia.