Ukraine President Asks Albania to Limit Russian Tourists

Speaking to MPs in the Albanian parliament via a video link on Tuesday, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky asked for the closure of Albania ports to Russian ships and for limits to be put on the number of Russian holidaymakers arriving in the country.

"As difficult as it may be, trade with Russia should be deliberately limited because if not today, then tomorrow, Russia will use trade links to hit your market when it wants concessions or political concessions from you," Zelensky said in his address, one of a series of video calls he has made to parliaments in various countries to encourage support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

"I ask you to close the ports for Russian ships, to restrict the arrival of Russian tourists because you can not know who is coming to you, maybe the killers in Bucha, maybe the executioners of Mariupol," he added.

Albania has eased access for tourists in the country for the 2022 summer session. When asked by journalists on April 25 if the relaxed measures would be reviewed for Russian tourists, Prime Minister Edi Rama said: "No, I don't think so."

Zelensky also congratulated Albanians on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and said that Ukrainians haven't had the chance to have a peaceful day since February 24, when the Russian invasion started.

"During this month, the Muslims of Ukraine and our entire society have not had a single day of calm and peace. Since February 24 Russia has turned all our days into a deadly danger," he said.

Zelensky also talked about the destruction of Ukraine cities and the atrocities committed by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians.

"They are watching the Russian army shooting children in the face. They are watching ordinary people, who have been taken...