Firmly Rejecting Russian Exemption, Nine NATO Countries Call For Increased Military Aid For Ukraine

President Zelensky signed a NATO membership fast lane application. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - The nine-state President of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from Central and Eastern Europe issued a joint statement on Sunday, condemning Russia's announcement of Ukraine's territory, calling on NATO to significantly increase military aid to Ukraine.

The statement stressed that leaders of these countries "visited Kyiv during the war and witnessed with their own eyes the effects of Russian aggression."

"We reaffirm our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not admit and will never recognize Russia's attempts to annex any Ukrainian territory," the statement said.

Those who issued a joint statement namely the Presidents of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, expressed strong support for "the 2008 decision of the Bucharest NATO Summit regarding future Ukrainian membership in the Alliance."

"We support Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion, demanding Russia immediately withdraw from all occupied territory and push all allies to substantially increase their military aid to Ukraine," the statement said.

The statement also called for "all those who commit the crime of aggression to be held accountable and brought to justice."

Separately, the decision on Ukraine's application for an accelerated NATO membership must be approved by all NATO allies, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday.

"NATO has open-door policies and every country including, of course, as well as Ukraine has the right to choose its own path, including what security arrangements it wants," Stoltenberg said when asked about Ukraine's app in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press".

However, he added, "At the same time, every decision on membership must be taken with consensus, all 30 allies must agree."

Stoltenberg stressed, "the main priority among NATO allies is to support Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday announced Ukraine was applying for NATO membership through a "fast path".