Open Letter on
Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine and the Implications for the Western Balkans

In light of current events in Ukraine, the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (Austria), the Balkan Forum (Kosovo), Crossborder Factory (Germany), and the International Institute for Peace (Austria) kindly invite you to support the Open Letter on Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine and the Implications for the Western Balkans with your signature.

In case you support our joint open letter and wish to sign it, please visit the following link

Putin's anti-civilisational aggression against an independent and peaceful country requires us to stand on the side of the oppressed. This is our moral duty as staying neutral must not be an option.

We, the undersigned civil society and political actors from the Western Balkans and the wider Europe are following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine with deep sadness and anger.

The attack against a peaceful and independent nation was preceded by a campaign aimed at denying Ukraine’s statehood, history, and national identity. We strongly condemn Putin’s unprecedented and unprovoked invasion during which we have witnessed Russian forces deliberatively attacking civilians and journalists, targeting residential areas and using proscribed weapons and military tactics.

The gravity of Putin’s aggression is not only a tragedy for Ukraine. It is a serious threat to peace and stability around the world – including the Western Balkans. During the 90s, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo were attacked by Milošević's Serbia under a pretext similar to what we see today in Ukraine.

The attempts to deny countries’ history, culture, and statehood – so central to the wars of the 1990’s – are still present in the Western Balkans. Today, the region is exposed to growing malign foreign influences. The leader of Bosnia’s entity Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, is rare amongst political leaders in Europe in failing to condemn the Russian invasion. The position of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has changed only in response to pressure from the EU, US, and other Western nations. The far-right movements and pro-Russian political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia - openly support Putin’s policies. Choosing to stay pragmatically neutral towards blatant Russian violations of international law is in stark contrast to the fundamental EU values. Such positions are a clear “red flag” for peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

We call on the European Union, NATO, and their allies not to neglect developments in the Western Balkans. They must not allow themselves to underestimate those aligned with Putin’s Russia as it commits its war crimes in Ukraine. The European Union in particular should seize the moment, and make the EU perspective for the Western Balkans concrete and tangible. Introducing immediate steps towards delivering on its promises, including granting visa-liberalization for Kosovo, is a good place to start. We firmly believe that democracy and freedom in the Western Balkans can only be protected and promoted in a strong coalition between the EU and the local democratic forces, that are now standing up in support for Ukraine against Putin’s aggression.

Russian army must immediately end its criminal intervention and withdraw from Ukraine without delay as this invasion is a stain on humanity. Vladimir Putin and his accomplices are demonstrating the worst of human nature.

Human Rights, State Sovereignty, Rule of Law, and Freedom of Expression are not just words on paper and should consistently be protected and implemented on the ground. Many in the Western Balkans have suffered in the pursuit of these precious ideals and are heartbroken to see them being attacked with such brutality in Ukraine today. As civil society and political actors, we stand with our colleagues and friends in Ukraine at this moment of terrible peril.

We commit ourselves to mobilize all our resources in the Western Balkans and the wider Europe to help and support refugees from Ukraine and demonstrate solidarity with all victims of the war.  

Find below the pdf version with the list of signatories