Presidents of Poland, Latvia, and Romania condemn Russian hybrid attacks

Russian hybrid attacks on NATO territory pose a threat to the security of the Alliance, the presidents of Poland, Latvia, and Romania said in a joint communiqué. "We will act individually and collectively to respond to these actions," they stated.

"We are deeply concerned about Russia’s recent malign hybrid activities on Allied territory, which constitute a threat to Allied security," declared Polish President Andrzej Duda, Latvian President Edgars Rinkeviczs, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, co-chairs of the Bucharest Nine (B9) meeting in Riga.

The document, published on the Romanian president's website, also stated that "these incidents are part of an intensifying campaign of activities which Russia continues to carry out across the Euro-Atlantic area, including sabotage, acts of violence, cyber and electronic interference, provocations related to Allied borders, disinformation campaigns and other hybrid operations."

"We support and stand in solidarity with the affected Allies. We will act individually and collectively to address these actions, boost our resilience and continue to coordinate closely to ensure that the Alliance and Allies are prepared to deter and defend against hybrid actions or attacks," the statement said.

The three leaders also emphasized that Russia remains the greatest and most direct threat to the Alliance and declared their intention to continue supporting Ukraine, which the Kremlin attacked.

On Tuesday, in the capital of Latvia, the leaders of the countries located on NATO's eastern flank gathered: Poland, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. At the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and new allies Sweden and Finland were also present.