Leaders of institutions and political parties in Kosovo condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and pledged to coordinate with Western allies. The comments were made during a parliamentary session in which opposition lawmakers called for more attention from the Kosovo government to the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the Western Balkans region.

“The Republic of Kosovo, the Government of Kosovo undoubtedly supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and as so far and in the future we will always be coordinated with the European Union, the United States of America and NATO,”the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti said.

The chairman of the parliamentary commission for foreign affairs, Haki Abazi, said that it is urgent for the security institutions to review the situation due to, as he said, similar actions that Serbia, Russia’s ally in the Balkans, could take.

The deputy of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, at the same time deputy speaker of the parliament, asked the institutions and parties to come together to condemn the Russian aggression.

“Ukraine is the first front, the Balkans is the second front and we are the first line of this second front in the Balkans and I think Kosovo government should convene the National Security Council, and third today if the US and the EU decide sanctions, today the government of Kosovo must gather and impose sanctions on the Russian Federation as we did in 2014 when Crimea was annexed,” said Mr. Hoxhaj.

Last week, Russian officials said “mercenaries” from Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia were being sent to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against pro-Russian insurgents, amid fears of a Russian attack on the neighboring country.

Officials from Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia have denied allegations made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russia, a longtime ally of Serbia, refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence, which last week celebrated 14 years of its statehood, now recognized by more than 100 countries, including the United States and key European Union countries.

/Klara Ruci/