TIRANA – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that while Ukraine is wrong not to recognize Kosovo’s independence, Kyiv’s fight for freedom remains unquestionable. In addition, he criticized nationalist reactions in Tirana and Pristina to the recent statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine’s position on Kosovo remains unchanged, i.e. that the country does not recognize Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence.
“My dear friend Volodymyr Zelensky stood in Belgrade and said Ukraine has not changed its position and will not recognize Kosova. Within the hour, the loudest folk nationalists in Tirana and Pristina were already reaching for the geopolitical calculator: perhaps we should punish Ukraine, stop cheering for the free and mourning for the bombed. The most reckless among them threw stones at us for not giving up on Ukraine. Some even cheered for Russia! What a shame to lose sight of the simple truth that freedom does not work on cashback”, Rama wrote on X.
According to him, “standing against a war of aggression and for a just peace is not a receipt you tear up when the victim of a barbaric aggression disappoints you, it is not a favour traded for a favour, but it is who you are and what you stand for in this messy world”.
“And fortunately Albania is not a small man calculating who owes whom, but the Europe of the Balkans that shows the way through its faith in freedom, democracy and peace, and through the strength of its example. Ukraine can be, and yes, it is wrong about Kosovo, but its right to be free remains unquestionable, and fighting for that right means fighting for Europe and for ourselves too. These truths can live perfectly well in the same sentence. Albania is grown enough to carry both and will carry both”, Edi Rama noted.
During his official visit to Belgrade, on 8 August 2026, Ukrainian President was asked by a journalist whether Serbian officials could count on Ukrainian support for non-recognition of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.
“We respect the territorial integrity of our partners; we respect international law. Therefore, our position regarding Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence remains unchanged. Likewise, we are grateful to our partners for their respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, including…Crimea’s status as part of Ukraine. Serbia’s position on this has also not changed”, Zelenskyy said, it was reported by Radio Free Europe.
These statements have sparked political controversy in Kosovo, with the removal of a large Ukrainian flag in Pristina and critical comments from the government.
“We take note with regret of President Zelenskyy’s remarks in Belgrade reaffirming Ukraine’s non-recognition of the Republic of Kosova. Since the first day of Russia’s full-scale aggression, Kosova has stood unequivocally with Ukraine. We condemned the invasion, fully aligned with CFSP, imposed sanctions against Russia and Belarus, provided humanitarian assistance and refuge for Ukrainian journalists, and contributed military assistance and training in support of Ukraine’s defence… While Kosova has imposed sanctions against Russia, Serbia has not aligned with the EU sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”, stated Glauk Konjufca, acting Foreign Minister of Kosovo.
