Hungary and Slovakia have also signed the conclusions on the need to protect the European Union (EU) from Russia and Belarus.

The text of this joint statement by the leaders of the 27 EU countries has been publicized, and it contains the following phrase: “[The European Council] underlines that the defence of all EU land, air and maritime borders contribute to the security of Europe as a whole, in particular as regards the EU’s eastern border, considering the threats posed by Russia and Belarus.”

The statement was unanimously approved by the leaders of all 27 EU countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, who often take a specific position which their critics call pro-Russian, the BBC reports.

Before the EU leaders’ Brussels summit on defense issues, it was said that Hungary and Slovakia would not oppose increasing defense spending, but would again oppose providing new aid to Ukraine.