Croatian President Zoran Milanović said the European Union should grant Ukraine candidate status and start negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia.

Furthermore, he said that everything must be done to stop the crisis from spreading to the Western Balkans. This includes granting membership status to Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, and accelerating Montenegro’s negotiation.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, European leaders have raised the alarm that the crisis may spread to the Western Balkans.

Currently, Albania and North Macedonia’s progression in the EU integration process have been stalled by Bulgaria over the latter’s cultural disagreements with North Macedonia.

Both Kosovo and BiH are potential candidates whose path to the EU has been hindered by their complicated relationship to Serbia.

/Klara Ruci/