Eleven Balkan countries adopt declaration in support of Ukraine at Athens summit

nv.ua:   Greece and 10 other Balkan countries signed the Athens Declaration in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity at the Ukraine-Balkans Summit on August 21, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine.

The list of countries includes Serbia, which is traditionally viewed as Russia’s closest ally in the region.

President Zelenskyy arrived in Greece on August 21 to participate directly in the summit.

The Athens Summit Declaration – Full Text

• The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a pivotal moment for Europe, creating a new level of awareness of shared principles, unity, and a common future within the EU. This is a critical time for the security, peace, and stability of our European continent. The laws and principles that contributed to a stable and predictable European security order for so long have been violated, and we witness once again the manifestation of the disastrous effects of revisionism.

• In the face of Russian aggression, we express our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, based on the values of democracy and the rule of law.

• In our discussions in Athens today, we expressed support and appreciation for the earnest efforts of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in setting out the principles for peace in line with the UN Charter. We also welcomed the efforts of the UN General Assembly to promote a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.

• We agreed that there can be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities, such as attacks against civilians and the destruction of infrastructure, and all those responsible must be held accountable.

• Twenty years ago, the Thessaloniki Summit acknowledged that the Western Balkans belong to the European Union. We firmly believe that today this statement remains more relevant than ever. The escalating war of aggression against Ukraine has revealed the urgent need for a strong, resilient, and inclusive EU as a cornerstone of peace and prosperity among our peoples during these challenging times.

• We stressed that the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, geographically adjacent to the EU Member States, share a common European heritage, history, and a future defined by shared opportunities and challenges. As a strategic investment in peace, security, and stability in Europe, it is important for these regions to be embraced as full-fledged members of the European family.

• Today in Athens, we discussed the way forward in order to make this vision of Europe a reality. We underlined the importance of setting ourselves a target for the completion of the vision of an EU enriched with the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova. We underlined the need for a re-energized and re-focused enlargement process that is tangible and credible, without shortcuts to the set conditions. We expressed our commitment to support Ukraine and Moldova to take the next steps in their accession process as soon as they have completed the necessary reforms.

• We firmly believe that 20 years after the Thessaloniki Summit, and in light of the new geopolitical reality, the time has come to adopt a bold and ambitious end goal that will serve as a guide, inspiration, and context.

The Declaration was signed by:

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić

President of Moldova Maia Sandu,

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović,

Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis,

Prime Minister of Romania Ion-Marcel Ciolacu,

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti,

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto,

Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski,

Prime Minister of Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov,

Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković.