Albania
Russian ship Slavianka delivered the last 3,030 tons of bulk grain wheat shipment, Government would freeze assets of Putin and 654 other Russian individuals, and the US Department of State’s Report marks Albania as home base for organized crime in narcotics trafficking. 46% of Albania’s grain imports in 2021 were from Russia, while 4% were from Ukraine. The report noted that Albanian nationals “play an outsized role in the international narcotics trafficking and organized crime networks” to the UK and Western Europe.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The country’s ambassador to UN Sven Alkalaj joined a General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the country’s banking agencies took control of Russia’s Sberbank subsidiaries, and indirect tax revenue up 21% year-over-year in January-February. Serb Presidency member Dodik sent a copy of a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres through the mediation of the Russian mission to the UN, claiming that B-H does not have “a position” on the Ukraine crisis. The banking agencies of the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska took control of the two local subsidiaries of Austria-based Sberbank Europe. The indirect tax revenue equals to 715,800 euros ($794,400).
Croatia
President Milanovic supports Ukraine’s European Union candidate status, Government sent $18 million in military equipment to Ukraine, and up to 17,000 Ukrainian refugees may come to the country. Milanovic stated that “Ukraine’s accelerated path to the EU is one of the methods” to stop this conflict from spreading. The military aid includes infantry weapons, such as rifles and machine guns, associated ammunition, and protective equipment. Civil Protection director Damir Trut said sixty-three Ukrainian refugees had arrived in the county and that the Civil Protection Directorate has 2,000 beds prepared thus far.
Kosovo
Parliament approves resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Defense Minister Mehaj asked the US for a permanent military base, and Prime Minister Albin Kurti has established a Security Fund to raise money for the Kosovo Army. Parliament asked Government to set aside a special fund to help Ukraine and host 5,000 Ukrainian refugees. Kurti called on the diaspora and Kosovo residents to donate to the fund in order “to contribute to national security.”
Montenegro
The Government joined EU sanctions against Russia, President Djukanovic has appointed URA’s Dritan Abazovic as Prime Minister, and Serb nationalists rallied in support of Russia. Foreign Minister Djordje Radulovic said he “joined his colleagues in condemning Russian aggression.” Abazovic is about to establish a minority government, including Albanian and Bosnian parties and Djukanovic’s Democratic Party of Socialists. Some 100 Serb nationalists rallied in front of an Orthodox church supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin.
North Macedonia
The Parliament adopted a statement condemning the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the Government would donate military equipment to Ukraine, and Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi said there is no need to activate commodity reserves for the time being. 100 Members of Parliament voted for the statement, while two from the Left party and one from the Serbian Democratic Party were against it. Bekteshi stated that there would be no price shocks.
Serbia
The Government supports UN Resolution condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic stated that the energy situation is stable, and Government remains against Russian sanctions but will accept refugees and send aid to Ukraine. The country’s permanent UN representative Nemanja Stevanovic stated that his country was “committed to observing the principles of territorial integrity and political independence of states.” Mihajlovic said that “additional gas volumes have been provided by Gazprom, so we have enough electricity, gas, thermal energy, and this will be the case in the coming months.” President Vucic stated that “Serbia respects international law and will continue to abide by it because it is the best way to protect itself, its interests and principles.”