“There can be no more talk of any nuclear-free status for the Baltic — the balance must be restored,” said Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a close ally of President Putin. Finland took its first step towards Nato membership yesterday, with Sweden expected to follow suit in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In other developments:• The flagship of Russia’s navy in the Black Sea was confirmed to be seriously damaged after Ukraine claimed to have struck it with missiles. • A United Nations task force has warned that the conflict could devastate the
