Maliqi: Belgrade took advantage of the opportunity to close Kyiv's door to Kosovo

Political analyst Agon Maliqi stated that Pristina has no reason to be surprised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that his country is not changing its position on Kosovo, because it had not invested the necessary political capital to achieve a different outcome. He assessed that Belgrade had taken advantage of the opportunity to close Kyiv's door to Kosovo.

"After the outbreak of the war, Ukraine was highly dependent on and susceptible to U.S. influence. The years of the Biden administration provided an opportunity to change its position on Kosovo, had more work been done on the issue with Washington, but the priorities of the 'sovereigntists' were different," Maliqi wrote on Facebook.

He pointed out that Ukraine has now become more independent, is closer to the positions of the EU than those of the United States, and has different needs and priorities.

"This is particularly the case when it comes to the weapons that Serbia has continuously sold to Ukraine, along with the engineers and doctors it has provided. Belgrade has now used this opportunity to present itself favorably in the West, while also closing Kyiv's door to Kosovo," Maliqi said.

He added that Kosovo has no reason to be surprised "when it has not invested political capital," arguing that Kosovo has pursued a policy that, in his view, has not demonstrated sufficient interest in securing assistance.

"Kosovo has no reason to be surprised when it has not invested political capital in achieving a different outcome, nor has it shown any interest beyond public rhetoric of support. Today, we are simply reaping the consequences of a foreign policy that neglects allies. Relations with Ukraine could also have been developed through Albania, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom, but ultimately, why would those countries make an effort to help a small state led by someone who is not only uninterested in such assistance but also lectures them?" Maliqi wrote.