The Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski at the NATO Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government stressed that the Russian military aggression in Ukraine is unprovoked and unjustified and a serious violation of international law.

Macedonia joins calls on Russia to immediately cease military action and withdraw all military troops and capacities from Ukraine, and welcomes Ukraine’s courageous defense, which protects the freedom of its citizens and the sovereignty of the country.

In this regard, Macedonia strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders and their right to freely choose their foreign policy orientation and security arrangements.

Prime Minister Kovacevski stressed that in these uncertain times, it is a pride to see all the benefits of NATO and EU unity in response to Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, which include important steps to strengthen the defense capabilities of the alliance’s eastern wing.

Prime Minister Kovacevski stressed that Macedonia has provided humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Ukraine, and that it is ready to accept Ukrainian refugees who would come to the country.

Prime Minister Kovacevski pointed out that the aggressive activities of Russia and the Western Balkans region have been carefully identified and monitored, and that they aim to undermine the reputation and trust in NATO and the EU, to provoke a security crisis that will affect the stability and prosperity of Western Balkans and create a dilemma over the strategic role of NATO and the EU in the region.

Kovacevski pointed out that NATO and the EU must maintain the credibility of their policies in the region to further strengthen security.

The Prime Minister of Macedonia emphasized that NATO’s open door policy was a historic success that ensures lasting peace and security throughout the European continent, despite the absence of a credible European and Euro-Atlantic perspective for the Western Balkans that may have multiple negative tendencies.

Kovacevski added that EU enlargement would increase security and consolidate democracy, and that it was therefore extremely important for Macedonia and Albania to start EU accession talks without further delays.