Ukrainian flag removed; Rama: When Kosovo is not respected, Pristina responds in kind

The Ukrainian flag, which had been displayed on the facade of a building in central Pristina since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, was removed today, with Mayor Perparim Rama stating that when Kosovo is not respected, Pristina responds in kind.

The removal of the Ukrainian flag from central Pristina came one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Serbia, where he stated that Kyiv's position of not recognizing Kosovo remains unchanged.

Alongside footage showing the removal of the flag, Rama wrote on Facebook that Kosovo must be respected.

"When Kosovo is not respected, the capital, Pristina, always responds in kind," Rama wrote. 

He stated that the empathy and solidarity of Pristina's citizens would always remain with peoples facing war, violence, and persecution because they "know better than many others what it means to fight for freedom, dignity, and the right to exist as a state."

"But no cause and no policy can be built by disregarding Kosovo's statehood and the sacrifices of its people," Rama added.

Before the mayor published his message on Facebook, footage showing the removal of the Ukrainian flag had already appeared on social media.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Kosovo has joined Western countries in condemning Russia's attack and imposed sanctions on Russia as an expression of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, Gazeta Blic recalled.

As part of that support for Ukraine, a large Ukrainian flag had been displayed in central Pristina and, for approximately four years, served as a symbol of Kosovo's solidarity with the Ukrainian people.