Prishtina, 24 February, 2023
Below you may find the address of Prime Minister Kurti on the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the Russian aggression and invasion in Ukraine, at the reception ceremony for Ukrainian journalists in Kosova:
Honorable Madame President, Ms. Osmani-Sadriu,
Honorable Parliament Speaker, Mr. Konjufca,
Dear Journalists from Ukraine,
Honorable Members of Parliament,
Honorable Ambassadors and Diplomatic Corps,
and those present,
In the early morning of February 24 of last year, after over 200,000 troops gathered near the border, the Russian Federation began its military aggression against Ukraine.
The attack was unprovoked and unjustified. It was an attack on the civilized world, on freedom and democracy, our basic values and our way of life. The Republic of Kosova strongly condemned and continues to condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine. We immediately imposed sanctions and expressed our readiness to shelter up to 5,000 refugees from Ukraine.
Today marks one year of Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine. One year of the bombing and destruction of cities and of murders and massacres of civilians.
Russia’s war against Ukraine was shocking, but not surprising. It came as a result of tolerance over a long period of time for the military adventures of a despotic president, the consequence of repression of human rights and freedoms, the rise of autocracy and the glorification of the myths of an imperial past. Especially during 2021, when it commemorated centennial anniversaries — 800 years from Alexander Nevsky and 300 years from Peter the Great — it became clear that President Putin had completely substituted mourning for the fall of the Soviet Union with nostalgia for Czarist Russia.
On February 24, 2022, the Kremlin wanted to replicate in Kiev what the Mongolians had done in 1242. In the 21st century, the Russians were imitating the Mongolians of the 13th century. A barbaric invasion, grave in terms of shallow thought and shallow in terms of heavy weaponry. That is how the Russian invasion looks from Kiev, from Prishtina, and from all of Europe.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today also marks one year of the unparalleled resistance of a freedom-loving people.
There are innumerable stories of the courage and sacrifice of Ukrainian soldiers, their dedication to country and cause that quashed the chances of success against them,. Stories of the steadiness and firmness of ordinary people to fight for and to free their country, have mobilized the free world to help and to stand in solidarity.
From February 24, 2022 until February 12, 2023, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 18,955 civilian victims in Ukraine. Of those, 7,199 were killed and 11,756 injured.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), 61.1% of confirmed victims are men and 39.9% women. At least 487 children have been killed and 954 wounded.
Almost 18 million people urgently need humanitarian aid, while 14 million people have been displaced from their homes. The cost of war damages has reached $138 billion, whereas the cost of reconstruction is calculated to be $350 billion.
The people of Kosova understand very well these figures, and the pain and suffering they will bring in the years and decades to come. And on a somber day like today, we are nonetheless happy that our Kosova has become the home of 12 Ukrainian journalists, with the hope that it has become a home in feeling, and not only a shelter. We stand by you as a people, a society, as institutions, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Resistance, solidarity, support — all the way to victory.
Ukraine must prevail, because only then will peace and democracy be preserved in the continent of Europe.
Thank you.
[1] https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/02/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-13-february-2023#:~:text=From%201%20to%2012%20February%202023%2C%20OHCHR%20recorded%20262%20civilian,not%20yet%20known)%3B%20and
[2] https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133737
[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/external-backers-pour-billions-into-ukraine-counter-war-damage-2023-02-17/
Last modified: March 5, 2023