Nine countries from Central and Eastern Europe, including North Macedonia and Montenegro, accept Ukraine's request for NATO membership, according to a joint statement.

The document was signed by the presidents of Romania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland and Slovakia, who state that they "firmly stand behind the decision made at the NATO Summit in Bucharest on the future membership of Ukraine."

They called on Russia to "immediately withdraw from the occupied territories" and emphasized that they "do not recognize the legitimacy of the annexation of the territories to the Russian Federation".

"We, the presidents from Central and Eastern Europe, from countries whose leaders visited Kyiv during the war and personally witnessed the consequences of Russian aggression, cannot remain silent before the flagrant violation of international law by the Russian Federation and in that direction we make the following statement: We reiterate our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We do not recognize and will never recognize Russian attempts to annex any Ukrainian territory," the joint statement said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed accession agreements with the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions at the end of the week. On the same day, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukraine's membership application for accelerated NATO membership.

"We fully support Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion, demand that Russia immediately withdraw from all occupied territories, and encourage all allies to significantly increase military aid to Ukraine. Anyone who commits an act of aggression must bear responsibility and be brought to justice," states the joint statement signed by Czech President Milos Zeman, Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian President Egils Levits, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova.

But the Alliance said that "it is not the right moment" for that.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the presidents who supported his request for Ukraine's immediate admission to NATO via Twitter.

Grateful to our neighbors – countries of Central & Eastern Europe for backing 🇺🇦's membership in @NATO & condemning RF's attempt to annex 🇺🇦 territories. @AlarKaris @valstsgriba @GitanasNauseda @SPendarovski @predsjednik_cg @AndrzejDuda @KlausIohannis @ZuzanaCaputova # MilošZeman

- Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 2, 2022