Demaku: Kosovo and the Ukrainian territories are not comparable cases

Pristina-based analyst Armand Demaku said that under no circumstances could the Kosovo case be used as a model for resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, arguing that “the authorities in Kyiv did not systematically repress the population of the territories annexed by Moscow, while Kosovo gained independence through a distinct historical process and on the basis of the right of peoples to self-determination.”

“Kosovo’s independence was declared as a result of a long history of injustice, repression and denial of the right to self-determination. Today, Kosovo is recognized by more than 100 countries and enjoys considerable international standing,” Demaku said in a written statement to Kosovo Online.

He added that Russia, and President Vladimir Putin in particular, had repeatedly invoked Kosovo as a precedent to justify the annexation of Ukrainian territories.

“In a way, by using Kosovo’s independence as an argument, Putin acknowledged Kosovo as a distinct case in international law, although he interpreted it in accordance with his own political interests. Ukraine, however, did not systematically repress the population of the territories annexed by Russia, which represents a fundamental difference compared with the Kosovo case,” Demaku said.

He also argued that it could not be claimed that, prior to the Russian intervention, residents of the territories in Ukraine had freely and independently pursued the right to freedom, independence or even unification with another state. He maintained that the process had unfolded under Moscow’s influence and in accordance with its geopolitical interests.

“We now find ourselves in a situation in which the war between Russia and Ukraine has entered a protracted phase, with the problems becoming increasingly complex and the consequences increasingly severe. It is clear that this conflict cannot be resolved by military means alone. A peace agreement is necessary, and the influence of the major powers in such a process will be inevitable,” Demaku said.

Reiterating his view that Kosovo and the Ukrainian territories represented different cases, Demaku noted that Kosovo had the support of major Western powers for its claim to independence, while the Western world did not recognize and strongly opposed Russia’s actions regarding Ukrainian territories.

“Of course, global politics and agreements among the major powers can influence the course of events. However, a solution imposed on the basis of geopolitical interests at the expense of the principles of international law would benefit neither side, nor would it serve the interests of the international order,” Demaku said.

He also assessed that Kosovo had not yet fully consolidated its international position, partly because of what he described as inappropriate policies pursued by the government in recent years.

“What remains for Kosovo to do in order to complete the consolidation of its statehood includes, among other things, resolving outstanding issues with its northern neighbor, Serbia, including border demarcation and a clear definition of the border,” Demaku concluded.