Nine NATO countries have already officially agreed to Ukraine's membership

A joint statement published on Sunday, October 2, on the website of Polish President Andrzej Duda, States this.

It emphasizes that the presidents of eight NATO countries were in Kyiv already during the full-scale war and "saw with their own eyes the consequences of Russian aggression."

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

In addition, the presidents of the states of Central and Eastern Europe expressed their firm support for the decision of the Bucharest NATO Summit in 2008 regarding the future membership of Ukraine in the Alliance.

"We support Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion, demand from Russia the immediate withdrawal of troops from all occupied territories and call on all members of the Alliance to significantly increase military aid to Ukraine. All those who commit crimes of aggression must be brought to justice and brought to justice." - is summarized in the statement.

It was signed by: President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman, President of Estonia Alar Karis, President of Latvia Egils Levits, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovskii, President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, President of Romania Klaus Iohannis and President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputova.