Prishtina, 09 August 2026, dtt-net.com – Authorities of Kosovo’s capital of Prishtina, today removed a huge Ukrainian flag from a hotel at town’s centre, in reaction to yesterday’s statement made in Serbia by Volodymyr Zelenskyy against Kosovo’s independence.
Prishtina Mayor Përparim Rama posted the video of removal of the flag from Grand Hotel, which was put for more nearly four years now in solidarity and support with Ukraine following ongoing military aggression by Russia.
“The state of Kosovo must be respected. When Kosovo is not respected, capital Prishtina always answers the same. Our empathy and solidarity will always be with peoples facing war, violence and persecution. Because we, better than most, know what it means to fight for freedom, dignity, and the right to exist as a state. But no cause and no policy can be built undermining Kosovo’s citizenship and the sacrifice of its people,” Rama wrote through Facebook.
Zelenskyy yesterday said that Ukraine continues to not recognize Kosovo’s independence from Serbia.
“We respect the territorial integrity of our partners. Regarding the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, our position remains unchanged,” Zelensky answered.
Kosovo has helped Ukrainian soldiers with demining training in Kosovo and also in the UK territory. It has also hosted dozens of Ukrainian journalists. It has also joined all waves of EU sanctions against Russia over aggression on Ukraine.
It has also sent military assistance to Ukraine consisting of tactical trucks, vehicles, military armours, and thousands of mortar shells in the war against military aggression by Russia.
Non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Ukraine is linked to annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and invaded Ukrainian south-eastern territories by Russia since 2022, which puts Ukraine in a difficult move toward Kosovo.
But despite political complications related, Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko is in favour of recognising Kosovo’s independence.
Goncharenko has visited Kosovo to establish ties between the two countries. He has also formed the group of Ukrainian lawmakers “Friends of Kosovo” pushing for recognition of Kosovo by Ukraine.
