Zelensky appeals for ammunition support in Albanian summit

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized the critical need for additional ammunition to counter Russian advancements during a summit co-hosted in Albania on Wednesday.

Addressing the summit attendees, Zelensky underscored the urgency of augmenting armament supplies, particularly ammunition, for Ukraine, as the nation contends with the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion over two years ago. “I think this is the question of: Will we stand or not,” he stated during his speech at the summit.

Arriving in Albania overnight, Zelensky participated in a gathering of eleven countries from southeastern Europe, alongside representatives from the European Union and other international organizations. As part of his visit to Tirana, Zelensky formalized a friendship and cooperation agreement with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Zelensky hailed Rama as “Ukraine’s unwavering friend,” noting that discussions would encompass defense and political cooperation, support for the Peace Formula, and security agreements. He also bestowed upon Rama the “Yaroslav the Wise” medal in recognition of his contributions to Ukraine.

Highlighting Albania’s steadfast support since the onset of the invasion, Zelensky’s visit marks the latest endeavor in his international outreach aimed at advocating for a peace plan and the repatriation of prisoners of war held by Russia.

During his time in Tirana, Zelensky endeavored to foster solidarity among his nation and those of the Western Balkans, asserting that they all deserve membership in the European Union and NATO if they so choose. “The European Union and NATO have provided Europe with the longest and most reliable era of security and economic development, and we are all equally worthy of being a part of the European and Euro-Atlantic communities,” Zelensky emphasized.

As Ukraine grapples with ongoing battlefield challenges, securing additional support remains paramount for Zelensky. He recently disclosed that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action since Russia’s invasion, marking the first official confirmation of casualties by Kyiv. Zelensky reiterated in Tirana that “the problems with the supply of ammunition” continue to impact the situation on the ground.

Albania, a NATO member since 2009 and a candidate for EU accession, has vocally backed Kyiv against Russia’s aggression. The nation has extended military assistance in the form of ammunition and training for the Ukrainian military, welcomed Ukrainian refugees, and joined international sanctions targeting Russian entities. Rama expressed pride in welcoming Zelensky for “a solidarity meeting and to further the commitment of our democracies against Russian aggression.”

Having served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the past two years, Albania, in collaboration with the US, has initiated resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion. Zelensky urged vigilance among all summit participants regarding Vladimir Putin’s future actions, emphasizing the critical role of collective interaction in thwarting Russian aggression. “The interaction between us, between neighbors, between neighboring regions, between all partners, has become a factor that along with the resilience of our people in Ukraine, does not allow Putin to prevail,” Zelensky affirmed.