Dmytro Kuleba called on nine countries on NATO's eastern flank to provide more weapons to Ukraine and to step up sanctions on russia

The Bucharest Nine (B9) meeting of Foreign Ministers, NATO members Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic at the invitation of Ivan Korčok, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

"We need to impose more sanctions on Russia and provide more weapons to Ukraine. Both factors facilitate negotiations, not hinder them. The stronger Ukraine is, the more possible a real and mutually acceptable solution becomes, the more likely it is that the

future agreement will meet the interests of peace and security in Ukraine and Europe, " the Minister stressed.

Dmytro Kuleba stressed: there can be no "fatigue" from sanctions, because it is equal to "fatigue" from war crimes, murder of children and destruction of cities. He emphasized that delays in decisions could only have negative consequences, and called on NATO's allies on the eastern flank to take proactive action.

"I urge you to focus on two priorities. First: how to strengthen Ukraine with weapons. Second, how to weaken russia to prevent it from achieving its goals. You are well aware of Ukraine's military needs. I urge you to consider them as your own, not just our needs, "said Dmytro Kuleba.

The Minister is convinced that more steps can be taken in the political, informational and economic spheres. He welcomed the expulsion from a number of European capitals of russian agents operating under the guise of diplomats. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister called for nullifying russian influence in all NATO member states.

"We hope that the countries of the B9 will impose additional sanctions on russia and ensure proper implementation of those already imposed," the Minister stressed.

The minister called for isolating russia on all fronts, ruthlessly cutting off all its escape routes, and nullifying all malicious russian activities abroad.

"Undoubtedly, russia has already suffered a strategic defeat in Ukraine. Now we need to ensure Ukraine's strategic victory. Ukraine's victory will mean the victory of the entire democratic world. This is a defining moment in the history of this century, the greatest challenge for our generation. The future of our children will depend on the answer we all give to this challenge, ” Dmytro Kuleba summed up.

The Minister expressed special gratitude to his Slovak counterpart for the invitation to participate in the meeting of the B9. He also thanked nine allies of NATO's eastern flank for caring for Ukrainian citizens temporarily forced to go abroad, as well as for actively promoting Ukraine's integration into the European Union.

Background

The international format of the B9 was founded in 2015 at the initiative of Poland and Romania. It brings together nine NATO members from Central and Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The goal of the initiative, which was launched after Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014, is to deepen military cooperation between the countries of the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as to discuss key security policy issues.