- Zelensky flew to Albania for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine
- He is scheduled to speak at a Balkan security summit.
- Albania has supported Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Albania on Tuesday night ahead of a security conference, his first visit to the Balkan nation since the Russian invasion.
In a social media post, Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani called the Ukrainian leader’s arrival in Tirana “a crucial moment to foster bilateral ties and stand in solidarity with Ukraine in its heroic fight against Russian aggression.” “.
This is the first time Zelensky has visited the Balkan nation since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago. The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, visited kyiv, together with the then Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazović, in June 2022.
On Wednesday in Tirana, Zelensky will meet with several leaders from across the region during the “Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit.”
Albania, a former satellite state of the Soviet Union and now a member of NATO, has consistently supported Ukraine on the world stage. It has been one of the few countries in the region to have imposed sanctions against Russia, along with Serbia.
This is the first time Zelensky has visited the Balkan nation since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
Albania, a former satellite state of the Soviet Union and now a member of NATO, has consistently backed Ukraine on the world stage.
Just a week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Albania was one of 38 nations that asked the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes allegedly committed by invading soldiers.
A few months later, in August 2022, Albania’s Defense Ministry claimed that two of its soldiers were injured while trying to prevent two Russians and a Ukrainian suspected of espionage from entering a military plant.
“Officers guarding the plant reacted immediately, but during their efforts to detain the three foreigners, two of our soldiers were injured,” the ministry said, adding that the soldiers were in stable condition.
The Defense Ministry said that one of those arrested, identified only as a Russian citizen MZ, 24, entered the territory of the Gramsh plant and was trying to take photographs.
The ministry said the man used a type of spray against soldiers while trying to escape after being detained by guards.
Two other people, a Russian woman identified as ST, 33, and a Ukrainian FA, 25, were also arrested nearby.
During its period under the communist regime, Gramsh was used to produce the Russian type of AK-49 rifle.
According to the ministry’s website, the plant now provides manufacturing services for the defense industry. He did not give more details.
Albania has largely remained silent about supplying weapons to Ukraine.
During a visit to Albania earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Tirana’s support for Ukraine.
“It was one of the first countries to send military aid to Ukraine following Russian aggression (weapons, ammunition, mine-resistant vehicles) and is currently one of the top ten countries per capita in terms of support for Ukraine and security assistance. “Blinken said.
Before arriving in Tirana, the Ukrainian president landed in Saudi Arabia, where he attempted to promote his peace plan and discuss possible prisoner-of-war exchanges.
Saudi Arabia maintains relations with both Russia and Ukraine and has mediated between the warring parties before, including an agreement reached in September 2022 that saw the release of more than 200 captive Ukrainians.