Kosovo and Albania react to Zelenskyy-Vučić reaffirmation of mutual territorial integrity support

Kosovo and Albania have both responded to the mutual reaffirmations of support for territorial integrity made during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Belgrade and his talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

Vučić states support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity during Zelenskyy’s first visit since the war began

In Kosovo, former foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli described Zelenskyy’s renewed confirmation that Ukraine’s policy of non-recognition of Kosovo remains unchanged as “deeply disappointing.” He noted that Kosovo has stood by Ukraine and genuinely sympathised with the suffering of its people. “If this is Ukraine’s response to that solidarity, it is truly regrettable,” Pacolli said, urging the Ukrainian president to reconsider the position.

Albania’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued a more detailed statement. It welcomed the dialogue while drawing a clear distinction. “President Zelenskyy’s visit to Serbia is important. Dialogue is always welcome, particularly when it creates space to address difficult questions with clarity, responsibility and a sense of history,” the ministry said.

It continued: “Just as Albania stands, and will continue to stand, firmly with Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and European future, we stand equally firmly for Kosovo’s sovereignty, independence and rightful place in the Euro-Atlantic family. There should be no misunderstanding on this point: any attempt to draw a parallel or establish an equation between Kosovo and any other international situation is wrong, opportunistic and profoundly misleading.”

The Albanian statement recalled the 2010 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, requested by the UN General Assembly, which found that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law. It contrasted this with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which it called “a grave violation of the UN Charter and international law, and a blatant breach of the rules-based international order.”

From Tirana’s perspective, “a peaceful, stable and European Western Balkans requires acceptance of the reality and irreversibility of Kosovo’s independence.” The ministry added that steps helping Serbia move further from Russian influence and closer to Europe are positive, even as the visit primarily serves Ukraine’s interests.

The reactions follow Zelenskyy’s explicit statement at the joint press conference in Belgrade that Ukraine respects the territorial integrity of its partners and international law, and that its position on Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence has not changed. Vučić, for his part, reiterated Serbia’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity under the UN Charter, declaring there were “no buts” on the issue and expressing gratitude for Ukraine’s consistent stance regarding Serbia.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, nearly a decade after the 1999 NATO military intervention that ended the conflict in the province. While the majority of EU member states recognised the new state, five – Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain – have consistently refused to do so. Each cites its own domestic concerns, primarily the fear that recognition would set a dangerous precedent for separatism or unilateral border changes by neighbours affecting their territory.

Caption: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) shake hands ahead of their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, 08 August 2026. Zelenskyy is in Serbia for an official visit. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC