Kosovo regrets Ukraine's non-recognition, reaffirms support for Kyiv

Kosovo's acting foreign minister, Gljauk Konjufca, voiced regret over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement during a visit to Belgrade that Ukraine does not recognize Kosovo's independence. Konjufca affirmed Kosovo's steadfast support for Ukraine since the start of Russia's aggression, emphasizing that this support, including sanctions against Russia and Belarus, humanitarian aid, and military assistance, was provided despite Ukraine's non-recognition of Kosovo. "We did all this even though Ukraine does not recognize our country, because solidarity with a people defending their freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity is a matter of principle," Konjufca wrote on X. He contrasted Kosovo's actions with Serbia's, noting that while Kosovo imposed sanctions on Russia, Serbia has not aligned with the European Union's sanctions. Konjufca rejected any attempts to portray Kosovo as a precedent for Russia's invasion or annexation of Ukrainian territories, stating that such parallels are historically and legally inaccurate. He reiterated Kosovo's commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity while also rejecting any framing of Kosovo's territory through the lens of Serbia's territorial integrity. President Zelenskyy had previously stated that his position on recognizing Kosovo's statehood had not changed.

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We did all this even though Ukraine does not recognize our country, because solidarity with a people defending their freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity is a matter of principle.