Why is this important: Although diplomatic relations between Albania and Ukraine were established in 1993, Albania had never opened a diplomatic mission in Kyiv until now. In 2015, the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania was opened in Kharkiv. The establishment of the embassy underscores Albania’s growing commitment to Ukraine, particularly in light of the intensified ties since the onset of the Russian invasion.

Why is it important: This is a further effort by Kosovo’s government to extend its authority to the north of the country, in accordance with the agreement reached in Brussels in 2013 to dissolve the so-called parallel institutions, which are financed and run by the government of Serbia. Kosovo’s police carried out their latest actions amid the campaign leading up to parliamentary elections on February 9.

Why is this important: The issue of missing persons remains one of the most sensitive topics in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. During the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, more than 6,000 individuals went missing, and 1,600 are still unaccounted for. Despite ongoing efforts, Kosovo continues to demand information from Serbia on the whereabouts of these individuals, but progress has been limited.