Albania
Government condemns Russia’s Donetsk and Luhansk independence recognition, denies Russian accusations of sending mercenaries to Ukraine, and may provide logistics to the Ukrainian Army. Foreign Minister Xhacka stated that this is a “clear violation of international law of the Minsk agreement” and that “Albania stands united with partners and allies in support of Ukraine.” Social Party’s member Pandeli Majko called the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s accusation “unprecedented.” Government is yet to answer Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Shkurov’s plead for gasoline and other fuels.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Tripartite Presidency divided on Russia-Ukraine crisis, Foreign Minister Turkovic commented Lavrov’s statement on mercenaries going to Ukraine, and the EU sent 500 of peacekeeping force as a stability precautionary measure. Bosniak Presidency Member Dzaferovic and Croat Presidency member Komsic want to implement sanctions against Russia as Serb Presidency member Dodik is against this decision and wants the country to stay neutral. Turkovic stated that Lavrov should have shared this information with the country’s security services before making it public. EUFOR nearly doubled the size of its peacekeeping force in the country.
Croatia
Parliament issued a Declaration condemning aggression against Ukraine, a cyber rapid-response team (CRRT) likely deployed to help Ukraine, and Deputy Prime Minister Bozinovic stated the country is ready to accept Ukrainian refugees. Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously adopted the Declaration condemning the Russian military attack and Russian recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk regions. CRRT was established by Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. Bozovic said that the Government is going to offer technical and humanitarian assistance.
Kosovo
The Government imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Government denied Lavrov’s accusation of mercenaries going to Ukraine, and Prime Minister Kurti commented on the ongoing crisis. Sanctions include freezing of assets of Russian banks, financial institutions and individuals, and Russian political actors. Head of President’s Office Blerim Vela commented the accusations as “fake news.” Kurti stated that Government’s activities would be “always coordinated with the European Union, the United States of America and NATO.”
Montenegro
The outgoing Prime Minister Krivokapic stated he hopes Russia would turn back to diplomacy, the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Abazovic has the same position on the crisis, and Government is still to decide on a far-right Ukrainian group – “Right sector” – member Rizvan Babayev’s request for political asylum. Krivokapic said that peace and conversation must be ways to overcome all misunderstandings. Abazovic stated that the country stands next to its EU NATO partners. Babayev is being held on a Russian-issued international arrest warrant for allegedly smuggling strategically essential resources.
North Macedonia
Prime Minister Kovacevski spoke on the phone with the EU’s High Representative Borrel about the situation in Ukraine, President Pendarovski condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the country was ready to accept refugees from Ukraine. Borrel thanked Kovacevski for aligning with the EU foreign policy toward the Russian-Ukrainian war. Pendarovski tweeted that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an “attack on the democratic order and a threat to the stability of Europe.” Refugee acceptance was one of the topics between Kovacevski and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Anatoliyovych Shmyhal over a phone call.
Serbia
National Security Council concluded to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity with no sanctions on Russia. In brief, the conclusion state that Serbia sincerely regrets everything that is happening in Ukraine, stands for consistent respect for the inviolability of sovereign integrity, respects the principles and rules of international law as 19 NATO countries did not when they attacked the country in 1999, provides support for respect for the principles of territorial integrity of Ukraine, believes it is not in its vital political and economic national interest to impose sanctions against Russia, remains neutral and stops police and military exercise with all foreign partners until further notice, and prohibits its citizens from participating in the conflicts.