The first official visit of the Ukrainian president to Serbia has triggered diplomatic reactions in Pristina and Tirana, while Russia continues its intense attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The first official visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Belgrade, which took place on August 9, 2026, is a clear sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not winning the war in Ukraine, political analyst Boris Varga told N1. The visit followed more than a dozen political contacts between Zelensky and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić since mid-2023, including meetings on the sidelines of international summits and telephone conversations.
Varga noted that expectations for direct bilateral cooperation are limited, but both countries have significant indirect interests. Serbia is important to Ukraine for weapons procured through intermediaries, while Vučić needs the support of the United States and the European Union, especially ahead of elections. "At this point, Putin needs Serbia more than Vučić needs Russia," Varga said, adding that he expects a sharp reaction from Moscow to Zelensky's visit, but not a serious deterioration of relations with Belgrade, which he describes as an important base of Russian influence in the Western Balkans.
A day after Zelensky confirmed in Belgrade that Ukraine has not changed its stance on non-recognition of so-called Kosovo, a large Ukrainian flag that had stood in the center of Pristina for four years as a sign of solidarity since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022 was removed. Pristina Mayor Perparim Rama posted a video of the removal, stating: "When Kosovo is not respected, the capital city of Pristina always reacts the same way." There is no official explanation yet for why the flag was removed, nor confirmation that the decision is directly linked to Zelensky's statement.
A harsher reaction came from the Organization of War Veterans of the so-called KLA, which called Zelensky's statement "anti-Kosovo." "Mr. Zelensky, your anti-Kosovo statement in Belgrade reveals your profession before you became president," they said, referring to events from 1998 and 1999, the NATO intervention, the declaration of independence in 2008, and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in 2010.
Albania's former Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati assessed that Zelensky's visit to Serbia should be viewed in the context of the war Ukraine is waging, but also criticized the Ukrainian president. "No one expected a major breakthrough. However, Volodymyr Zelensky could have shown more appreciation for Ukraine's partners in Southeast Europe, including Kosovo, which has stood firmly by Ukraine," Bushati said.
An official reaction followed from Albania's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, which strongly supported so-called Kosovo and rejected any possibility of drawing a parallel between the case of Kosovo and Ukraine. "There should be no misunderstanding on this issue: any attempt to draw a parallel or make an equation between Kosovo and any other international situation is wrong, opportunistic, and deeply misleading," the ministry said.
While diplomatic reactions unfold in the Balkans, Russia continues its devastating strikes on Ukrainian cities. On Saturday, Zelensky said he had received reports from Serhiy Koretskyi, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Viktor Mykyta about the consequences of Russian attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv, Pavlohrad, and other regions. In Odesa and its surroundings, efforts are underway to restore power supply after a brutal strike on the energy sector, which also damaged residential buildings and the port. Eight people were injured. In Kharkiv, a direct drone strike destroyed four floors of a residential building, killing two people. In Pavlohrad, an attack near a shopping center and on energy infrastructure injured nine people, including four children.
"Russia continues its ballistic terror, which is not limited to just one city or community," Zelensky said. This week alone, 61 missiles of various types were fired at Ukraine, including 56 that follow a ballistic trajectory, more than 1,560 attack drones, and 1,540 aerial bombs. Attacks were also recorded in Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and the Donetsk region.
On Friday, Zelensky also warned of the presence of North Korean soldiers on Russian territory. "North Koreans appear from time to time on the territory of the Russian Federation. We see it, we know it," he said. According to him, a decision was made to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans on Russian territory to study modern warfare. "We must have a general understanding of what is happening with the Russians to realize that they will resort to anything," Zelensky concluded, calling on South Korea to cooperate more closely with Ukraine, especially in the area of air defense.
