The participants of the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s path toward full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership, and called on the international community to strengthen sanctions against Russia.
This is stated in the joint declaration published by the Office of the President of Ukraine following the summit, Ukrinform reports.
“1,204 days have passed since Russia launched its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, continuing its armed aggression against Ukraine from 2014. We condemn Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. It constitutes a grave crime against the Ukrainian people, a blatant violation of international law — including the UN Charter — and a severe threat to peace, security, and stability across the wider European continent and globally,” the document reads.
The summit participants acknowledge and support Ukraine’s efforts to find a diplomatic path to restoring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. In this regard, we reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including territorial waters, and we reiterate our commitment to providing comprehensive and sustained support to Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary.
They also urged the international community to intensify its support for Ukraine in its struggle to defend its freedom, independence, and territorial integrity. At the same time, they called on all nations to refrain from offering any form of material or other assistance to Russia’s war effort.
The declaration underscores the importance of alignment with the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy decisions and measures.
“Full withdrawal of Russian forces and equipment from the entire Ukrainian territory, an end to hostilities and the war as a whole, and the full restoration of Ukraine’’s internationally recognized borders are essential, non-negotiable conditions for a comprehensive, robust and durable peace,” the declaration states.
The summit participants emphasized the strategic importance of the Black Sea for European and global security, including food security, and committed to strengthening regional maritime cooperation, maritime security, connectivity, safety, freedom of navigation, and protection of critical infrastructure.
They also stressed that the future membership of Ukraine, Moldova and Southeast European partners in the EU is vital for the long-term stability, security, and prosperity of the region and Europe as a whole.
“NATO membership remains the best cost-effective security option for Ukraine. We reaffirmed our support to the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of partners of the region. We support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. The Open Door Policy, enshrined in Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, is one of NATO’s main strengths. Neither Russia nor any other state that is not a NATO member has the right to veto the Alliance’s enlargement,” the document reads.
The summit participants fully supported Ukraine’s right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference.
They also condemned the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed forces and other military formations in and against Ukraine, including deliberate, disproportionate and indiscriminate armed attacks and drone and missile strikes against the civilian population and critical civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, as well as the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian civilians — including children — from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
The signatories of the declaration reaffirmed the importance of effective and independent investigations of Russia’s war crimes against Ukrainians and other crimes committed in or against Ukraine, and of subsequent bringing the perpetrators to justice. Furthermore, they supported the international efforts to set up a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, committed by the Russian Federation.
The document underscores the importance of food security and notes that Ukrainian agricultural products must be freely and safely delivered to global markets.
“Attacks by Russia on merchant ships, civilian ports, and related infrastructure, as well as violations of other countries’ sovereign territory, including airspace, are unacceptable,” the statement said.
The summit participants said that Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continues to suffer from deliberate and systematic attacks by Russia, emphasizing the importance of enhanced regional coordination and robust electricity interconnectors to mitigate the impact of these attacks and strengthen regional energy security.
They also encouraged the international community to maintain and further strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation in the banking and energy sector, especially regarding the oil price caps and Russia’s shadow fleet to deprive the aggressor of the resources needed to continue fuel its war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as take measures to prevent sanctions circumvention.
The document states that Russia must be held accountable and pay full compensation for its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The Russian assets in all possible forms play a constructive role in recovery of Ukraine according to the international law provisions.
The signatories of the declaration confirmed their intention to develop and strengthen friendly relations in the fields of economic cooperation and trade and to work towards further advancing trade and economic integration within the region and between the region and the EU, following effective incorporation of the EU acquis and free trade between non-EU members.
They committed to contributing to Ukraine’s ongoing and post-war recovery and reconstruction. This includes engaging all relevant stakeholders — international financial institutions, private companies, local communities, and other partners — to secure the investments, expertise, and financial support necessary to build a prosperous future for Ukraine.
“The countries in Southeast Europe should play a pivotal role in Ukraine’s reconstruction process,” the document reads.
The summit participants reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation and coordination in the humanitarian sector through the implementation of targeted initiatives, particularly in programs focused on health and rehabilitation of veterans and vulnerable groups affected by Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.
They also emphasized the critical importance of cooperation in cyber security and in preventing illegal and hybrid interference in electoral processes of sovereign states, including through disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference.
The sides agreed to work jointly on the prevention of hybrid threats and to hold the next meeting in Odesa of the countries – parties to this Declaration at the level of relevant agencies.
“A free, peaceful, and prosperous Europe is impossible without a free, peaceful, and prosperous Ukraine. The participants of the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Odesa Summit remain resolutely committed to this vision,” the document concluded.
Source: Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit participants support Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations
