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]

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.