Estonia, Lithuania join G7 Declaration of Support for Ukraine

MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - Estonia and Lithuania have joined the Group of Seven (G7) declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine, Ukrainian media reported citing Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas after she released a joint statement with her Lithuanian and Latvian counterparts, Ingrida Simonyte and Krisjanis Karins, respectively.

"We will support Ukraine on its path towards NATO and EU membership," Kallas said on social media.

Only NATO membership can warrant future safety for Ukraine, the statement said.

The prime ministers also declared their readiness to cooperate with Ukraine closely on the path to EU membership.

"Following the evaluation of the fulfillment of the recommendations, we look forward to the start of the accession negotiations in 2023," they said. "With this in mind, we join the G7 Declaration of Support for Ukraine," the leaders said. "We will work with Ukraine within this multilateral framework," the statement said.

Latvia joined the Declaration on August 9.