Zelensky rules out recognizing Kosovo, Foreign Ministry responds: Pristina and Kyiv cannot be compared

Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine’s position on Kosovo remains unchanged. The Ukrainian president made the statement during his visit to Belgrade, where he held a meeting with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vučić.

Speaking alongside Vučić, Zelensky reiterated Kyiv’s position, declaring that Ukraine will not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Albania’s Foreign Ministry responded to the statement. According to the ministry, Pristina’s situation cannot be equated with that of Kyiv, while Kosovo’s case must be assessed based on its own historical, political and legal circumstances.

The ministry described President Zelensky’s visit to Serbia as important, emphasizing that dialogue is always welcome, particularly when it creates opportunities for difficult issues to be addressed with clarity, responsibility and sensitivity.

The response states that Albania has supported and will continue to strongly support Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and European perspective. In the same way, our country firmly supports Kosovo’s sovereignty and independence, as well as its rightful place in the Euro-Atlantic family.

The ministry stresses that there should be no ambiguity on this issue. Any attempt to compare Kosovo or place it in the same equation as another international situation is described as wrong, opportunistic and deeply misleading.

According to the official position, the issue of Kosovo is grounded in its own distinct historical, political and legal foundations. At the request of the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice clearly determined that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not constitute a violation of international law.

The response explains that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine represents an entirely different case. It constitutes a serious violation of the UN Charter and international law, as well as a flagrant breach of the rules-based international order.

From Albania’s perspective, a peaceful, stable and European Western Balkans can be built only by accepting the reality and irreversibility of Kosovo’s independence. This independence has contributed to regional stability and is part of a future in which borders are not changed by force, while peoples and communities have the opportunity to determine their future in peace and security.

The ministry also reaffirms its conviction that Serbia and Kosovo should be part of the same European future.

The normalization of relations between them, which would ultimately lead to mutual recognition, would not weaken Serbia. On the contrary, such a development would help close one of the most painful chapters in the region’s recent history and pave the way for genuine reconciliation, good-neighborly relations and lasting peace.

According to the response, the Western Balkans needs this positive energy today, perhaps more than at any other time.

President Zelensky’s visit to Serbia primarily serves Ukraine’s interests, which is described as understandable and legitimate. Likewise, any action that helps Serbia distance itself further from Russia’s malign influence and move closer to Europe is viewed positively.

However, the ministry stresses that every engagement must also be used to reinforce one essential understanding: the Western Balkans must move toward the future and not turn back.