What is NATO and is Ukraine a member?

Russia has begun its so-called 'military operation' in Ukraine, unleashing more than 80 strikes in just hours.

Tensions had escalated after Russia declared the independence of two rebel-backed regions of eastern Ukraine.

The crisis is complicated and exists in part due to deep ties between Russia and Ukraine, as well as resistance to the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, reports the Mirror.

Economic sanctions have been enforced by countries in the West in response to the escalating crisis.

A 'first barrage' was announced by Boris Johnson, including freezing the assets of five banks Russian and three Russian billionaires, who will also be hit with UK travel bans.

More severe sanctions will follow now Russia has imposed what has been described as a 'full-scale invasion'.

Here we explain what Nato is, whether Ukraine is part of it and what the military alliance is likely to do next.

NATO - the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - is a military alliance of countries formed in 1949 that promise to come to each other's aid in the event of an armed attack.

It was originally formed in the wake of World War Two as the threat shifted to a possible armed struggle with the Soviet Union.

In response, the Soviets created their own military alliance under the Warsaw Pact of 1955, which included the likes of Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic, then Czechoslovakia.

Since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the situation has become slightly more complicated, with the former Warsaw Pact states, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany (formerly East Germany) and Poland now all NATO members.

NATO's website said of its formation: "It is often said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in response to