Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu on Monday held separate meetings with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, and with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar.

Donfried said better relations between Kosovo and Serbia would limit Russia’s ability to divide, create fear and incite chaos in the region.

“The best way to counter the Kremlin’s flagrant attempts to destabilize the region is simple: Kosovo and Serbia must urgently unite and re-engage in the EU-facilitated dialogue, with strong US support,” Donfriend said.

Kurti told a post-meeting conference that it was unfortunate that Serbia refused to sanction Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, adding that countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia should be allowed to join NATO and the EU.

According to him, a rejection of sanctions indicates an orientation towards and an alliance with autocrats.

“In order to maintain peace and security, NATO and EU integration is necessary for countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia,” Kurti said.

President Osmani-Sadriu in her meeting reiterated that Kosovo is a constructive party, but its relations with other countries should not be measured by its relations with Serbia. “Our relations should not be determined by the dialogue with Serbia,” she said.

Another visit by three US senators touring the Balkans confirmed US support for Kosovo. 

Senators Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis visited Kosovo on April 21 after earlier visits to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. 

Senator Murphy wrote on Twitter before the start of the visits that, as Russia loses the war in Ukraine, it will seek other troubles in other areas.

“As Russia continues to lose in Ukraine, they will look to make trouble in nearby fragile regions. I’m in Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia this week with Senator Shaheen and Sen Thom Tillis to strengthen US ties to the Balkans in the face of foreign efforts to undermine peace ”, he wrote.

Senator Shaheen added that they welcomed Kosovo’s ambition to join NATO.

“We look forward to supporting your aspirations to be part of NATO. Senator Tillis and I are co-chairs of the NATO Monitoring Group, and we work hard to support the efforts in the US Congress of what NATO is doing and to support the aspirations of countries like Kosovo that are interested in joining NATO,” she said.