Heads of state from the Bucharest Nine Group, made up of countries on NATO's eastern flank, met in the Romanian capital of Bucharest on Friday to discuss the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine.

"In view of the increased security risks in Romania and on the Black Sea, the question of strengthening NATO on its eastern flank is becoming increasingly urgent and important," said Romanian President Klaus Johannis, who co-hosted the meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who was unable to attend directly due to illness, was to be connected via video.

Stephen Lowenstein

Political correspondent based in Vienna.

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Hungarian President Katalin Novák said: "We strongly condemn Russia's unlawful aggression against Ukraine, which has destroyed peace in Europe and is causing enormous human suffering and destruction." She reiterated the commitment to sovereignty and the democratic process in Ukraine, but at the same time insisted that the neighboring country had the obligation to fully guarantee the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia.

Czech President Miloš Zeman, who spoke via video, said starting EU accession talks would give Ukraine moral support, which it deserves as part of the European family, and Prague therefore fully supports it.

Before the meeting, Slovakia had announced that it would gradually increase the size of its armed forces from currently around 14,000 professional soldiers to up to 22,000 in 2035.

Until then, at least two percent of their annual economic output should be spent on defense, which corresponds to the obligation of the NATO member states.

According to Finance Minister Mihály Varga, Hungary wants to reach the two percent target by the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic and the United States are negotiating a military cooperation agreement.

Among other things, it is intended to legally secure a permanent presence of American troops on Czech territory.

In neighboring Slovakia, a stationing agreement came into force at the beginning of the year.

That had led to fierce domestic political controversies there, but these have largely died down after Russia's attack on Ukraine.

It is supposed to be an agreement in principle, the specific stationing of American soldiers remains subject to decisions by the government and parliament.

Several months of negotiations are expected.

To date, 24 NATO member states, including Germany for a long time, have concluded such agreements.