Zelenskyy's Kosovo remarks trigger diplomatic fallout and EU warnings in Western Balkans

Regional tensions have deepened across the Western Balkans following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's confirmation in Belgrade that Kyiv will maintain its policy of not recognising Kosovo.

The stance provoked immediate pushback in Pristina, where municipal workers removed a prominent solidarity banner, while Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko criticised Kyiv's position as a "diplomatic mistake." Albania firmly rejected attempts to draw parallels between Kosovo and other international disputes. Analysts also noted that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić leveraged the diplomatic encounter for domestic political advantage.

Simultaneously, rhetoric flared over northern Kosovo's Ibar River. European Union spokesperson Anita Hipper cautioned Serbian officials against discussing changes to the river's flow, stressing that normalisation can only advance through Brussels-led negotiations.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Faktoje, Gazeta Tema, Kanal 5, Koha