Joseph: After meeting in Brussels, Kurti and Osman go to Kyiv to seek recognition of Ukraine

He says it would represent a blow to Russia's president, while recognition by Ukraine would serve as a accelerator to receive five recognitions from EU states that have still recognised Kosovo.

“Kurti and Vuciq will go to Brussels in 27.02 for a major meeting for the US-EU proposal. Next stop for Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani must be in Kyiv to discuss recognising Kosovo from Ukraine with Zelensky to give a blow to Putin”, Joseph wrote in Titter.

He argues that as recognition by Ukraine secures the catalyst for Kosovo's uniform recognition throughout NATO.

“S first, like the country that, as President Biden said, is “on the front line, struggling to save the fundamental democratic principles that unite all free people”, Ukraine has great moral authority. Recognising Kosovo, Ukraine would shift the issue of Kosovo from a local Balkan issue to a European security issue of first rank. Ukrainian recognition of Kosovo will immediately destroy the status quo for those who do not know it. Instead of choosing between President Vuciq and Prime Minister Kurti, those governments would be asked if they stay with Zelensky for Kosovo, or with Putin”.

Second, says Joseph, recognition of Ukraine would give Athens the context that Greek officials say should recognise Kosovo.

“Athina already has good relations with Pristina and has expressed readiness to recognise Kosovo to advance important Greek interests. Athens needs stability in the Balkans and has the interest to prevent a partition of Kosovo, which would open the door to “Greater Serbia”, “Greater Albania” and the biggest Turkish influence on the Balkans. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has resolved possible implications for Cyprus in the clash with Turkey and the country's breakaway north. Citing the 2010 International Criminal Court's advisory opinion (GJND) for Kosovo's declaration of independence, Dendias has identified legal iron bases to distinguish in the cases of Cyprus and Kosovo, defending the position of Nicosia”.

Ukraine's “Note would reinforce this sound reasoning. If Kiev, like Athens, could see that international law favours the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, establishing a high barrier Kosovo has cleared, then Romania, Slovakia, Spain and others should be able to do the same. Ukraine brings specific credibility for fears shared by Romania and Slovakia for ethnic Hungarian separatism promoted by Budapest. As with Putin's kinetic challenge, Zelensky realizes that the best protection against Hungary's hybrid threat is unity. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán would face complications in an effort to exploit Kosovo's recognition by his three neighbours”, says Joseph.