Joint statement of Presidents of Central and Eastern European NATO Member States on Russian attempts to illegally annex Ukrainian territories

We, Presidents of Central and Eastern Europe, countries whose leaders have visited Kyiv during the war and witnessed with their own eyes the effects of Russian aggression, cannot stay silent in the face of the blatant violation of international law by the Russian Federation, and therefore are issuing the following statement:

We reiterate our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

We do not recognize and will never recognize Russian attempts to annex any Ukrainian territory. We firmly stand behind the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit decision concerning Ukraine’s future membership.

We support Ukraine in its defence against Russia's invasion, demand Russia to immediately withdraw from all the occupied territories and encourage all Allies to substantially increase their military aid to Ukraine. All those who commit crimes of aggression must be held accountable and brought to justice.

Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania

Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic

Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia

Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia

Gitanas Nauseda, President of the Republic of Lithuania

Stevo Pendarovski, President of the Republic of North Macedonia

Milo Đukanović, President of the Republic of Montenegro

Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland

Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic