FLASH
Shkruar nga Nick Abbott
Albania's unwavering support for Ukraine reflects the United Kingdom's stance, not only in words but also in clear actions.
As the UK Ambassador to Albania, I see every day how our partnership is strengthened in the face of shared challenges. Three years ago, Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine fundamentally changed the security landscape in Europe, marking the largest military assault on our continent since the Second World War. Although Putin expected a quick victory, he failed to fully conquer even a single Ukrainian province and has yet to take any new regions.
Albania’s unwavering support for Ukraine reflects the UK’s stance, not just in words but also in clear action. As one of the world’s top ten donors to Ukraine, relative to its population, Albania has provided essential military support, including ammunition, weapons and vehicles. Ukrainian troops have been trained in Albania and last week, as part of Operation INTERFLEX, Albanian military experts joined British experts in the UK to jointly train Ukrainian forces. This has been supported at the highest diplomatic level, with Albania serving as a co-signatory to the Ukraine agreement at the UN Security Council.
Ukraine’s resistance has been remarkable, damaging about a quarter of the Russian fleet’s main battleships in the Black Sea, pushing its naval forces more than 300 km from Sevastopol. These are not just military victories. They have enabled Ukraine to resume essential seaborne exports, with 80% of its agricultural exports now moving through Black Sea ports. Meanwhile, the Russian economy is facing sanctions, with Putin forced to seek military support from North Korea and Iran.
Our partnership has been further strengthened during this fruitful year. Following the signing of the Albania-Ukraine Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, Albania signed a key Bilateral Security Agreement with Ukraine, and in July 2024, joined the UK-led Call to Action against Russia’s “Shadow Fleet2” to help limit Putin’s ability to fund his illegal war.
The United Kingdom is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. The British Prime Minister has made it clear that we must be ready to send British military forces if needed to help ensure Ukraine's security. While this is no small task, it reflects our fundamental understanding that helping to ensure Ukraine's security is helping to ensure the security of our continent, and ultimately our own country.
As we mark this somber anniversary, both Britain and Albania recognise that this is not just about Ukraine, but about preventing Putin’s violation of international law from becoming the norm. Together, we understand that Ukraine’s security is inextricably linked to European security and our shared future./ BW
Lini një Përgjigje