Relationship dossier
Albania
Russia
Relationship assessment
Sustained political friction over Ukraine, NATO alignment and Kosovo outweighs limited bilateral cooperation.
Albania toward Russia
-55Albania has aligned with EU sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and has supported international measures condemning Russian actions. In 2018, Albania expelled Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the Skripal poisoning case.
Russia toward Albania
-55Russia opposes Kosovo’s independence, a central Albanian foreign-policy priority, and has identified Albania as an unfriendly country amid Albania’s alignment with Western sanctions and policies. These positions have contributed to sustained political friction.
Overall relationship
-55The relationship is shaped by Albania’s NATO and EU alignment and its support for Kosovo’s independence, both of which conflict with Russian government policy. Albania’s support for measures against Russia and the 2018 diplomat expulsions further deepened tensions. These recurring political disputes define the relationship more than its limited bilateral cooperation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Albania’s NATO and EU-aligned policies, including support for sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, have placed it in sustained opposition to Russian government policy. Russia’s opposition to Kosovo’s independence conflicts with a major Albanian foreign-policy priority. Albania also expelled Russian diplomats in 2018, and Russia later listed Albania among countries it considered unfriendly. These disputes have outweighed the limited scope of bilateral cooperation.
Areas of tension
- Albania’s support for sanctions and international measures against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
- Russia’s opposition to Kosovo’s independence, which conflicts with Albania’s support for Kosovo.
- Albania’s 2018 expulsion of Russian diplomats.
- Albania’s NATO and EU alignment and Russia’s designation of Albania as an unfriendly country.
Key developments
Albania expelled Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the United Kingdom.
Albania aligned with EU sanctions against Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia listed Albania among countries it considered unfriendly.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of practical bilateral cooperation outside the major political disputes is unclear.
- The implementation and ongoing effects of restrictive measures and diplomatic actions are uncertain.