Zelensky flies into Albania for Balkans security conference in first visit to the nation since Russia's invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Albania late Tuesday ahead of a security conference, his first visit to the Balkan nation since Russia's invasion.

In a post on social media, Albania's Foreign Minister Igli Hasani called the Ukrainian leader's arrival in Tirana 'a pivotal moment for fostering bilateral ties, and standing in solidarity with Ukraine in its heroic fight against Russia's aggression'.

This is the first time Zelensky has paid a visit to the Balkan nation since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago. Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Kyiv, along with then-Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazović, in June 2022. 

In Tirana on Wednesday, Zelensky is to meet with several leaders from across the region during the 'Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit'. 

Albania, a former satellite state of the Soviet Union and now a member of NATO, has consistently backed Ukraine up on the world stage. It has been one of the few countries in the region to impose sanctions against Russia, along with Serbia. 

This is the first time Zelensky has paid a visit to the Balkan nation since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago

Albania, a former satellite state of the Soviet Union and now a member of NATO , has consistently backed Ukraine up on the world stage

Just a week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Albania was one of 38 nations that called on the International Criminal Court to investigation war crimes allegedly committed by invading soldiers. 

A few months after that, in August 2022, Albania's defence ministry said that two of its soldiers were injured while trying to stop two Russians and a Ukrainian suspected of espionage from entering a military plant. 

'The officers who were guarding the plant reacted immediately, but during their efforts to stop the three foreign nationals, two of our soldiers were injured,' the ministry said, adding that the soldiers were in stable condition. 

The defense ministry said one of the arrested, identified only as a Russian national M.Z., 24 years old, entered the Gramsh plant's territory and was trying to take photos.

The ministry said the man used a kind of spray against soldiers while trying to escape after being stopped by guards.

Two others, a Russian woman identified as S.T., 33, and an Ukrainian man F.A., 25, were also arrested in the vicinity.

During its period under Communist rule, Gramsh was used to produce the Russian type of the AK-49 rifle.

According to the ministry's website, the plant now provides manufacturing services for the defense industry. It did not give more details.

Albania has largely stayed quiet about supplying Ukraine with arms.

During a visit to Albania earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Tirana's backing of Ukraine.

'It was one of the first countries to send military aid to Ukraine in the wake of the Russian aggression - guns, ammunition, mine resistant vehicles - and it's currently one of the top ten per capita in terms of its support for Ukraine and security assistance,' Blinken said.

Before arriving in Tirana, the Ukrainian president touched down in Saudi Arabia, where he sought to promote his peace plan and discuss potential prisoner of war exchanges.

Saudi Arabia maintains relations with both Russia and Ukraine and has mediated between the warring parties before, including a deal struck in September 2022 that saw the release of more than 200 captive Ukrainians.