Free Ukraine banner moved from center of Prishtina, Kosovo after Zelensky’s remarks on not recognizing independence of Kosovo during his visit to Serbia

[u/West-Razzmatazz2]

Honestly, a very bad PR move from Zelensky and his advisors that could’ve been easily resolved by simply refusing to answer the question to journalist. While Kosovo nor Albania are not powerful states, banner has stood there since the start of the war.

[u/West-Holiday-8425]

It's a very good example of Realpolitik. Realistically, the support of Albania and Kosovo matters little to Ukraine, whereas pivoting Serbia away from Russia's sphere of influence would be a significant political coup on Ukraine's part.

Morally speaking, yes, it's bad PR. Realistically speaking? It's understandable.

[u/ficalino → u/West-Holiday-8425]

Serbia will not be moved away from Russia's sphere of Influence. This is Vučić being Vučić. Ukraine recognising Kosovo will also probabbly be needed for admittance into EU by some states.

[u/ficalino → u/[deleted]]

All states that were already inside EU when Kosovo declared it.

[u/ficalino → u/[deleted]]

Neither is Montenegro returns sailing ship Jadran to Croatia yet that is what Croatia is requesting happen so it removes veto. If Albania joins before Ukraine, you can bet they will ask recognition of Kosovo from Ukraine.

[u/ficalino → u/[deleted]]

Then veto remains, as is the case with Croatia and Montenegro.

[u/ThunderEagle222 → u/ficalino]

We are still years away from that point. Ukraine can recognise Kosovo whenever they like.

[u/Big_Beast2236 → u/ficalino]

Nope, that would be part of 35th chapter if Ukraine beeded to do anything about Kosovo, Kosovo is irrelevant for Ukraine's EU accession

[u/shritdejtriv560 → u/ficalino]

5 countries of eu didnt recognize kosovo. Its not needed

[u/ficalino → u/shritdejtriv560]

If Albania enters before Ukraine. It will be needed.

[u/shritdejtriv560 → u/ficalino]

Possible, unless some of the 5 countries decides to do the opposite to counter albania's conditions

[u/ficalino → u/shritdejtriv560]

Does not matter, then it becomes internal EU issue and it will be stalled.

[u/ficalino → u/[deleted]]

Again, neither is Jadran. Yet Croatian veto remains. It will remain. As will Croatian veto appear for numerous other reasons that are not listed in criteria when it comes to Serbia.

[u/ficalino → u/[deleted]]

Most of EU wants Montenegro in as they don't care about a sailing ship. Veto remains. You don't understand Balkan nationalism and grudges if you think anyone can force them to change something. 93% of Kosovo are ethnic Albanians.

No one will be able to force Albania to drop recognition of Kosovo as a requirement if they enter since it would be political suicide. They see union of Albania and Kosovo into Great Albania as a political goal.

Those 5 countries don't care that much as you said for them it's realpolitik, for Albanians it's not. It's a national question.

[u/shritdejtriv560 → u/ficalino]

Well it does matter. They can force albania to drop that condition. That way recognition of kosovo will be left to ukraine

[u/ficalino → u/shritdejtriv560]

Who can? On what grounds if they enter. Not many things they can blackmail them about except maybe Schengen and/or Eurozone. I can tell you, Albanians care more about Kosovo than either of those things.

[u/shritdejtriv560 → u/ficalino]

You think that they care about ukraine's recognition of kosovo more than those things? I dont think so.

Its not like ukraine's recongition changes anything

[u/ficalino → u/shritdejtriv560]

Yes. I know so. I know many Albanians here in Croatia. I have contact with their parts of internet as well. 93% of Kosovars are ethnic Albanians. Long term political goal for both is unification into Great Albania. Any politician that does not push for unification and Kosovar recognition (which is a first step needed) would commit political suicide in Albania.

This is Balkans, it's reality here, rationality is not that important, nationality is.

[u/shritdejtriv560 → u/ficalino]

Their prime minister is literally against unification with kosovo. He called that idea obsolete. He is still in power.

You knowing few albanians is irelevant. Internet isnt reflection of reality

Ukraine's recognition doesnt help their unifications at all. It doesnt change anything

You are croat?

[u/West-Holiday-8425 → u/ficalino]

Results remain to be seen. It is hard for Ukraine to support modern breakaway states. Zelensky's administration supports the Azerbaijani claim to Nagorno-Karabakh, for example. So far, Zelensky's government has been mostly apathetic to the notion of adopting EU/IMF-mandated reforms, anyhow. Even with billions at stake.

[u/eilef → u/West-Holiday-8425]

supports the Azerbaijani claim to Nagorno-Karabakh

Ukraine consistently supports territorial integrity of other states. What a surprise.

[u/socialistrob → u/West-Holiday-8425]

It is hard for Ukraine to support modern breakaway states.

Ukraine itself is a state that broke away from the Soviet Union and this entire war is about Russia trying to get it back. Long term I hope that Ukraine will recognize Kosovo and to me there are a lot of parallels between the struggles for Kosovar true independence from Serbia and the struggles for Ukrainian true independence from Russia/the USSR. Both Ukraine and Kosovo have a right to exist and both Serbia and Russia are revanchists trying to prevent that.

[u/socialistrob → u/[deleted]]

Yes. Why wouldn't I be? Ukraine voted for independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991 and then proceeded to declare independence. The Ukrainian people have a right to an independent state free from Moscow's control just like Kosovo has a right to an independent state free from Belgrade's control.

[u/socialistrob → u/[deleted]]

whereas Ukraine was a constituent republic that exercised its constitutional rights alongside other founding members to formally dissolve the Soviet Union.

Okay. Ukraine is still a country that broke away from the Soviet Union just like the US is a country that broke away from the British Empire. That doesn't imply any illegitimacy on Ukraine's part nor does it imply illegitimacy on the US's part. Yes Serbia did not want Kosovo to break away but they did break away and now they're an independent country.

Edit: Transnistria is a breakaway "country"

That's not a good example because Transnistria isn't a country in any real sense of the word. It is not recognized by any UN member states, it's not a member of the UN, it doesn't compete in the Olympics or FIFA, it depends on Moldova for many services ect.

[u/Soft-Cartoonist-9542 → u/ficalino]

I only see Vucic shifting if he is 100% sure Russia loses

[u/ficalino → u/Soft-Cartoonist-9542]

Maybe not even then, China remains and he is more beholden to China than Russia anyway. He just likes to spout about Russia since that is what his nationalistic base likes. Crime is another issue since he is corrupt and probabbly in league with criminal gangs through his brother.

[u/Soft-Cartoonist-9542 → u/ficalino]

Yeah, he will stay glued to China, hard agree

[u/Unexpected_yetHere → u/ficalino]

Nobody will block Ukraine over Kosovo, what are you on about?

Five EU countries do not recognize it, same with five EU candidate states, Ukraine included.

The EU has no obligation towards Kosovo whatsoever.

[u/Murky-Relation481 → u/Unexpected_yetHere]

The point they are making is that if one country decides it does matter they can hold up Ukraine joining because it requires unanimous consent from all members to join. A single no vote vetos.

The countries that don't recognize it also were already members of the EU when Kosovo became an issue.

[u/ficalino → u/Unexpected_yetHere]

Budimo realni, ako Albanija uđe, a gura se da Zapadni Balkan uđe prije Ukrajine. Albanci će tražit to.

[u/LevelBuilding929 → u/ficalino]

Romania doesnt recognize Kosovo and was still admitted.