Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, on Friday delivered letters of thanks to Ukrainian journalists sheltering in Kosovo. 

At the ceremony, Ukrainian journalists were decorated by President Osmani, who said that the people of Ukraine had remained steadfast despite challenges and difficulties during this one-year period. 

Russia’s invasion began on February 24, 2022. Twelve journalists from Ukraine are currently being hosted in Kosovo.

Osmani said that in 1999 the world was on the side of Kosovo and now it is on the side of Ukraine.

“This is not only their war, but a war to protect the values of democracy everywhere in the world. In 1999, the democratic world was on the side of Kosovo, today the democratic world is on the side of Ukraine,” she said.

The Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said that the attack on Ukraine was an attack on the civilized world. He also expressed his country’s willingness to host refugees from Ukraine.

“The attack of February 24 2022 on Ukraine was an attack on the civilized world. Kosovo has condemned it and continues to strongly condemn it. We express our readiness to host refugees from Ukraine. Russia’s war against Ukraine was shocking but not surprising,”  Kurti declared.

The municipality of Prishtina also organized a solemn ceremony which the ambassadors of the US, the EU and Germany and many of the Ukrainian journalists sheltering in Kosovo attended. It started with a minute of silence for the civilian victims of the war in Ukraine.

“We have shown solidarity, and we have organized different activities in different places of the capital with several installations of artists  showing our solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” the Mayor of Prishtina, Perparim Rama, said.

The US ambassador, Jeff Hovenier, emphasized that this was an attack that shocked the whole world and undermined world order. He further noted continued US assistance to Ukraine, mentioning the recent visit of President Joe Biden to the country.

Meanwhile, Luidmyla Makei, representative of the Ukrainian journalists in Kosovo, said that she was grateful to Kosovo for the shelter they had received and the opportunity to exercise their profession and tell the truth about Ukraine.

“We thank you on behalf of the group of Ukrainian journalists for the fact that Kosovo sheltered us in a difficult time. Prishtina became our second home and gave us the opportunity to stay in our profession and tell the world the truth about the war in Ukraine. I feel good and calm here,” she said.

After the solemn session, at the Municipality of Prishtina, a group of children released doves as a symbol of the call for peace in Ukraine.