On Thursday, 27 November, the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv hosted a reception organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Ukraine to mark the 113th anniversary of Albania’s independence. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevhen Perebyinis, members of parliament, representatives of the military and local authorities, the diplomatic corps, scientific and cultural institutions, as well as the Albanian community in Ukraine.
In his speech, Albanian Ambassador to Ukraine Ernal Filo recalled that on 28 November 1912, the creation of the Albanian state was proclaimed in the city of Vlora, and stressed that this year’s anniversary is being celebrated in Kyiv for the first time since the opening of the Albanian Embassy. He described this as a ‘new chapter in diplomatic relations’ and a symbol of the deepening of relations between the two countries and solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
The ambassador emphasised Albania’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as our country’s European course. He recalled that Albania, as a member of NATO, consistently stands on the side of Ukraine in the UN, the Council of Europe and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, opposing attempts to change Europe’s borders by force.
A separate section of the speech was devoted to economic cooperation. According to the ambassador, bilateral trade between Albania and Ukraine has exceeded €65 million in recent years, with positive dynamics in the agro-industrial sector, metallurgy, construction materials and food products. Ukrainian companies are showing interest in the Albanian market in the areas of grain supply, energy, logistics and agricultural technology, while Albanian exports to Ukraine include minerals, medicinal plants, building materials and tourism services.
The ambassador noted that 57 companies with 100% Ukrainian capital and six joint ventures with Albanian partners are already operating in Albania, primarily in the Vlora region, which is becoming a ‘gateway’ for investment, tourism and maritime activities. In his opinion, this creates a basis for further expansion of economic cooperation.
Filo also highlighted Albania’s growing role as a tourist destination and invited more Ukrainian tourists and investors to the country, emphasising the potential of the Albanian Riviera, the mountainous north and the historic cities of Berat and Gjirokastër. He called culture ‘the most beautiful bridge’ between nations, mentioning Albanian polyphonic music, Mediterranean cuisine and contemporary art.
The ambassador made a special mention of the long-standing Albanian diaspora in Ukraine – communities in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv, which have preserved their language and traditions for generations and serve as a ‘living bridge of friendship’ between the two countries.
Speaking about the war, Ernal Filo stated that Albania will continue to stand with Ukraine, freedom and international law, and that true peace is impossible without justice. He cited the example of the reconstruction of a school in Kharkiv with the support of the municipality of Tirana as a symbol of human solidarity.
In the final part of his speech, the ambassador emphasised the common goal of Albania and Ukraine – full integration into the European Union, welcomed the European Council’s decision to open negotiations on Ukraine’s membership and called Europe the ‘common home’ of the two nations.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania were established on 13 January 1993. The Embassy of Ukraine in Albania began operating in Tirana in 2020, marking a new stage in the development of bilateral relations. The Albanian Embassy in Ukraine was officially opened in Kyiv on 17 January 2025 – it is the first foreign diplomatic mission opened in Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation.
