Albanian PM Claims Russia Will Not Attack Europe Amid Ukraine Tensions

Berlin, Germany – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has downplayed Western fears that Russia is preparing for more conflicts in Europe. In an interview with Al Jazeera on the sidelines of the Berlin Global Dialogue conference, he emphasized the need for a concrete European Union peace plan for Ukraine as the US works to end the ongoing war.

Rama stated, “It would be completely foolish for any country to attack EU or NATO members.” He reassured that “Russia will not attack Albania and Russia will not attack any other European country,” attributing this to NATO’s strength.

“NATO is ready for any kind of aggression,” he said. “NATO has nothing and no one to fear because it’s the strongest army in the world.” Albania has been a NATO member since 2009 and has pursued EU membership since 2014.

“The EU is being provoked a lot by Russia,” Rama added, referring to the daily provocations faced by bordering countries, including Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Romania, which have reported suspected drone incursions from Russia.

The situation heightened on September 19, when NATO intercepted three Russian MiG-31 jets in Estonia, a claim Moscow denied. German foreign intelligence chief Martin Jaeger recently warned that Russia may avoid a direct military confrontation with NATO while expanding its influence further westward.

Despite the tensions, Rama voiced confidence in Albania’s security, saying, “We have no fears. There is no room for Russian hostilities in Albania because there is no sympathy for Russia.” This stance comes as Eastern European nations remain on high alert due to Russia’s suspected activities.

Rama criticized the EU for lacking a comprehensive peace plan, stating, “The fact that the EU does not have a peace plan looks very strange to me.” He encouraged the EU to promote its own diplomatic initiatives to foster peace.

During a meeting with five other Western Balkan leaders on October 22, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the region “the cradle of Europe, where the security of our continent is tested.” All six nations are at various stages of EU membership negotiations, working to reform their institutions.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, recently commended Albania’s progress toward EU integration, noting significant advancements since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict.

“There has been a stunning and outstanding record speed acceleration since 2022,” she said. Rama echoed her sentiments, indicating that the EU’s openness toward Balkan nations has improved lately.