Today, the Ukrainian flag that had been displayed in central Pristina with the message “Free Ukraine” was removed.
Pristina Mayor Përparim Rama said that Kosovo’s statehood must be respected, emphasizing that the capital will respond whenever respect for the country’s statehood is undermined.
Rama said that Pristina will continue to show solidarity with peoples facing war, violence, and persecution, but stressed that no cause can be used to belittle Kosovo.
“Kosovo’s statehood must be respected. When Kosovo is not respected, the capital, Pristina, always responds in the same way,” Rama wrote.
He emphasized that the people of Kosovo understand well the importance of the struggle for freedom, dignity, and the right to exist as a state.
“Our empathy and solidarity will always be with peoples facing war, violence, and persecution. Because we, more than many others, know what it means to fight for freedom, dignity, and the right to exist as a state,” he said.
However, the mayor of Pristina stressed that solidarity with the causes of other peoples cannot come at the expense of respect for Kosovo’s statehood.
“But no cause and no policy can be built by belittling Kosovo’s statehood and the sacrifice of its people,” Rama concluded.
The Ukrainian flag was removed today from central Pristina, where it had been displayed with the message “Free Ukraine.”
The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Zelenskyy made the statement during his visit to Serbia and meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
“Our position on the non-recognition of Kosovo remains unchanged. We are grateful to Serbia for respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including, of course, Crimea. Serbia’s position is not changing, including at the United Nations,” Zelenskyy said yesterday in Belgrade.
It should be recalled that Kosovo has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia.
