President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday said NATO will support Ukraine „for as long as it takes” as it fights the continued Russian invasion, speaking at the start of the Bucharest 9 (B9) Summit.
Iohannis is co-chairing the meeting alongside Slovak President Zuzana Caputova and Polish President Poland Andrzej Duda.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also attended the event at the Bratislava Castle in the Slovak capital.
„We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Ukraine prevailing in this war is our main goal,” the Romanian president said in opening comments. „The Bucharest 9 format keeps its added value_ solidarity, dialogue and cooperation are the roots of our common strength and resilience,” Iohannis added.
His presidential administration earlier said: „The meeting of the Bucharest 9 Format states takes place…. one month before the NATO Summit in Vilnius and will provide an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on the priorities included on the allied agenda and major objectives, with an emphasis on strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on the Eastern flank, as well as on intensifying cooperation with Ukraine.”
Leaders will discuss progress in implementing the allied decisions passed at the NATO Summit in Madrid, including defense investment and spending commitments, as well as support for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
„Special attention will also be paid to vulnerable partners in the region, such as the Republic of Moldova, which is confronted with increased security challenges,” the statement said.
The Bucharest Nine (B9) format was launched in 2014 as a Polish-Romanian initiative aimed at coordinating positions and exchanging views in the field of security between the nine countries located across the Baltic and Black Sea regions.
The Bucharest Nine comprises Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia.
