Bucharest Nine states urge strengthening NATO’s eastern flank

In a joint statement following talks with US President Biden in Warsaw, nine NATO countries from Central and Eastern Europe stressed the need to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. The declaration adopted by leaders of the so-called Bucharest Nine, which includes Czechia, points to Russia as the biggest threat to the allies' security and pledges continued support for Ukraine with the aim of restoring the country’s internationally recognized borders.

US President Biden vowed on Wednesday to “defend every inch of NATO ground" and described Russia's suspension of the New START nuclear arms control treaty as a "big mistake".