Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, during a state visit to Finland, warns against making concessions to Russia in any Ukraine peace agreement.

During her official visit to Helsinki this week, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani delivered a clear message to the international community: Do not make concessions to Russia in the search for peace in Ukraine. As reported by Koha.net on April 23, 2025, Osmani stressed that yielding to Moscow’s demands could empower further imperial and territorial moves—not just in Ukraine, but throughout Europe and especially in the Western Balkans.

“Dangerous Precedent for All of Europe”

At a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Osmani emphasized the dangers of appeasement. “Any future peace deal must not encourage Moscow to pursue its imperialistic and territorial ambitions against other countries,” Osmani said, highlighting that Russia has always sought to spark a “chain reaction” in the region. She continued, “If we give in to Russia, just because of its size and military power, it will be dangerous for the rest of the world, not just for the European continent” (Radio Free Europe, April 2025).

Finnish President Stubb: Europe More United Than Ever

President Stubb, responding to Osmani’s remarks, underscored how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine had galvanized European unity. “An unexpected consequence of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is that Europe is now more united than ever, and European integration has returned to the agenda,” Stubb noted. He described the current geopolitical landscape as the emergence of a new Iron Curtain between Europe and Russia and affirmed Kosovo’s aspirations for EU membership.

Kosovo Aligns with EU Against Russian Aggression

The visit highlighted Kosovo’s alignment with the European Union and its Western partners in resisting Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine. Both leaders discussed the ongoing security challenges in the Western Balkans, agreeing on the need for continued cooperation to ensure regional stability.

Call for Principled Diplomacy

As Europe faces a changing security environment, President Osmani called for vigilance and principled diplomacy: “We must not let short-term solutions jeopardize the future stability of our continent,” she concluded, reinforcing her stance against any compromise with Moscow that could have long-term negative consequences for Europe as a whole.

Image:
Presidency of Kosovo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Koha.net, April 23, 2025
Radio Free Europe, April 2025