(ANSA-AFP) - WASHINGTON, MAY 19 - US President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed the leaders of Finland and Sweden in a strong show of support for their bids to join NATO in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To the pomp of a red carpet and military honor guard, Biden received Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto just days after they officially said they would seek to join the US-backed alliance. The three leaders are expected to speak to reporters after talks in the Oval Office. Sweden and Finland, while solidly Western, have historically kept a distance from NATO as part of longstanding policies aimed at avoiding angering Russia. But the two nations both moved ahead amid shock over their giant neighbor's invasion of Ukraine, which had unsuccessfully sought to join NATO. (ANSA-AFP).