In a post on X, Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to a statement made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Belgrade that Kyiv’s position on recognizing Kosovo remained unchanged.

The prime minister criticized voices in Albania and Kosovo that, according to him, called for a change in their stance toward Ukraine because of its position on Kosovo.

Rama described as misguided the idea that support for a country should be conditional on its political positions.

“Within an hour, the loudest folkloric nationalists in Tirana and Pristina had already pulled out their geopolitical calculators: perhaps we should punish Ukraine, stop cheering for freedom and stop mourning those being bombed. The most reckless among them even attacked us for not abandoning Ukraine. Some even cheered for Russia!” he wrote.

Rama said Albania would continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, adding that standing up for freedom and peace is not a transactional relationship between two countries.

He added that Ukraine is wrong on the issue of Kosovo, but that, in his view, does not diminish the Ukrainian people’s right to be free.

“Ukraine may be, and yes, is, wrong on Kosovo, but its right to be free remains indisputable, and fighting for that right means fighting for Europe and for ourselves as well. These truths can quite easily stand in the same sentence. Albania is mature enough to uphold both, and it will uphold both,” Rama added.

Rama’s response:

My dear friend Volodymyr Zelensky was in Belgrade and said that Ukraine would never recognize Kosovo. Within an hour, the loudest folkloric nationalists in Tirana and Pristina had already pulled out their geopolitical calculators: perhaps we should punish Ukraine, stop cheering for freedom and stop mourning those being bombed. The most reckless among them even attacked us for not abandoning Ukraine. Some even cheered for Russia!

What a shame to lose sight of the simple truth that freedom is not a transactional relationship.

Standing against a war of aggression and in support of a just peace is not a bill you tear up when the victim of barbaric aggression disappoints you. It is not one favor exchanged for another, but rather who you are and what you stand for in this troubled world. And fortunately, Albania is not a petty person keeping score of who owes what to whom, but the Europe of the Balkans, leading the way through its faith in freedom, democracy and peace, as well as through the power of its example.

Ukraine may be, and yes, is, wrong on Kosovo, but its right to be free remains indisputable, and fighting for that right means fighting for Europe and for ourselves as well. These truths can quite easily stand in the same sentence. Albania is mature enough to uphold both, and it will uphold both.

Therefore, yes: FREE UKRAINE. Today, tomorrow and always.

The post Zelensky’s Statement from Belgrade, Rama: Ukraine Is Wrong on Kosovo, but Its Right to Be Free Remains Indisputable appeared first on Albeu.com.

The “Free Ukraine” sign, installed in a public space in Pristina to express solidarity with Ukraine, has been removed following statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Belgrade.

While in Serbia, Zelenskyy reiterated Kyiv’s official position, stating that Ukraine does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

Shpend Lila announced the removal of the sign in a Facebook post, which included video footage of the moment it was taken down.

The Ukrainian president’s statement prompted reactions in Pristina, while the removal of the “Free Ukraine” message was seen as a symbolic act amid the ensuing debate.

Since the start of the Russian aggression, Kosovo has ranked among the countries that have strongly supported Ukraine, condemning the invasion and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

However, Ukraine continues not to recognize Kosovo’s independence, a position Zelenskyy reaffirmed during his visit to Belgrade.

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In recent days, hostile rhetoric from Belgrade towards Kosovo has escalated through statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and the head of the Office for Kosovo, Petar Petković. According to experts, this is a synchronized offensive to damage Kosovo’s image before global opinion, coinciding with the approaching decision of the Special Court regarding former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

A new wave of Serbian propaganda attacks on the international stage seeks to portray Kosovo as an entity that oppresses the rights of the Serb minority. This time, it was Petar Petković, head of the so-called Office for Kosovo within the Serbian Government, who launched a series of accusations against the Kosovo Police, regarding what he labeled as “oppression” during a religious activity in Prizren. Through a post on the X platform, Petković attempted to provoke international reactions against the actions of law enforcement agencies.

Connoisseurs of the political landscape emphasize that the stances of Vučić, Petković, and other leading figures in Belgrade maintain full synchronization, with the primary goal of making Kosovo appear before the world as a country engulfed in instability.

“This entire propaganda effort aims to position Kosovo at a disadvantage in the eyes of the international community; meanwhile, within Serbia, it is orchestrated to gain legitimacy and support from ultranationalist circles that enjoy extraordinary influence. This propaganda demands a structured counter-response from Kosovo, as well as from the United States of America and the European Union,” said Dorajet Imeri, a lecturer in geopolitics.

Meanwhile, the factual situation on the ground refutes this narrative, with data showing that Kosovo practices one of the most progressive models on the continent regarding the preservation of spiritual and cultural heritage. Under specialized security monitoring and plans by the Kosovo Police, around 170 Orthodox religious sites are continuously protected, including 24 churches and monasteries in areas with heightened protection. This contrast, from an analytical perspective, exposes the psychological warfare of official Belgrade to discredit Kosovo’s state institutions and distort international perception.

“In reality, the true oppression of Serbs in Kosovo is being exercised by Serbia itself, which uses them as a tool for its propaganda, keeping them asphyxiated through threats and blackmail, while Kosovo and its state mechanisms protect them. Orthodox churches and properties are guarded without interruption by the Kosovo Police 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing security so they are not misused by anyone,” stressed Gurakuq Kuçi from the “Octopus” institute.

This psychological operation is gaining momentum precisely at the moment when the verdict against former KLA commanders in The Hague is awaited, where Russian support for Serbia remains unwavering. In this context, the KLA War Veterans Organization has made public the statements of Russian ambassadors to the United Nations over the years, as evidence of Moscow’s interference with the Special Court to secure their conviction.

The post Serbia’s Coordinated Campaign to Demonize Kosovo, Analysts: Belgrade Seeks to Portray the Country as Fragile appeared first on Albeu.com.