This is the first official trip by the Ukrainian president to this Balkan country since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
In his search for support against Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Tirana. The Ukrainian president was welcomed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose country is hosting a security summit in the Western Balkans.
“We have to survive, which means that everything we have decided, whether contracts or aid, must arrive on time. We must prepare. To what? In order to be strong. Prepare for war or peace. That’s not what it’s about. Preparing for Putin’s Next Actions“, said the Ukrainian president.
Albania, a NATO member since 2009 and a candidate for EU membership, has expressed its full support for Ukraine.
“We have seen repeatedly in the region how Russian influence has brought instability to a country. And if we are still together and standing, it is because of our common aspiration to be part of the European Union“, said the Albanian Prime Minister.
President Zelensky stressed the need for support in arms and financial means to prevent Kyiv’s defeat by Moscow. He also launched the idea of co-production of arms in Albania in order to supply Ukrainian soldiers in their war against Russia. For Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, support for Ukraine is a guarantee that Russian aggression will not spread to the Balkans or other regions of Europe.
