Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania support Ukraine and guarantee that they will never recognize Russia’s attempts to annex territory.

The presidents of nine former European communist countries that are part of NATO said this Sunday that they will never recognize Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions and reaffirmed their full solidarity with Ukraine.

“We reiterate our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and do not and will never recognize Russia’s attempts to annex Ukrainian territory,” they said in a joint statement.

The text is signed by the presidents of Slovakia (Zuzana Caputová), Estonia (Alar Karis), Latvia (Egils Levits), Lithuania (Gitanas Nauseda), North Macedonia (Stevo Pendarovski), Montenegro (Milo Ðukanovic), Poland (Andrzej Duda), Czech Republic (Milos Zeman) and Romania (Klaus Iohannis).

Of the nine countries, only North Macedonia and Montenegro are not yet members of the European Union (EU).

The declaration lacks the signatures of the leaders of four other ex-communist countries that are members of both NATO and the EU: Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin formalized on Friday the annexation of four Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk (in Donbass, east), Kherson and Zaporijia (south), under partial control of Russian forces.

The measure, rejected by the Ukrainian authorities and the international community, took place in the eighth month of the war in Ukraine, which Russia began with the invasion of the neighboring country, on February 24.

“We support Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion, demand that Russia immediately withdraw from all occupied territories, and encourage all allies to substantially increase their military assistance to Ukraine,” the nine presidents said in the statement.

The measure, rejected by the Ukrainian authorities and the international community, took place in the eighth month of the war in Ukraine, which Russia began with the invasion of the neighboring country, on February 24.

“We support Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion, demand that Russia immediately withdraw from all occupied territories, and encourage all allies to substantially increase their military assistance to Ukraine,” the nine presidents said in the statement.

Source: With Agencies