Kosovo backs Ukraine even though Kyiv has not recognized its independence, foreign minister says

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine for conflict not to spread further in Europe. She said her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence.

Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, who is both foreign minister and deputy prime minister, said her small Balkan nation, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, is constantly reminded of the aggressive intentions of both Serbia and its ally Russia.

“Ukraine hasn’t recognized the Republic of Kosovo as a state, but we really believe that we know exactly what Ukraine is going through,” she told The Associated Press in an interview.

“And we know that there is only one solution, not only for Ukraine, but for Europe,” she said. “It can only be Russia to lose the war and Ukraine to win this war. Otherwise, Europe should prepare for other conflicts in our continent.”

The people of Kosovo were the targets of war crimes and other atrocities by Serbia's security forces in the 1990s, an experience that led Kosovo to seek independence.

“While Kosovo is a small state with very modest possibilities to help, we have tried to be very helpful with Ukraine and have not hesitated to show our unconditional support and sympathy to the people and to the state of Ukraine,” Gërvalla-Schwarz told the AP.

The latest reminder of Moscow threatening Kosovo came this week when a Russian Telegram channel called for a denial-of-service attack on Kosovo government websites after Kosovo's defense minister announced new military aid for Ukraine at a conference in Warsaw on Tuesday.

Gërvalla-Schwarz on Wednesday inaugurated Kosovo's first consular mission in Poland, part of an effort to improve economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Poland recognized Kosovo's statehood in 2008 but the two countries did not establish diplomatic relations at the time. For now the Kosovo mission has the status of a consulate general, but she said she hopes it could be a step to having an embassy in Poland.

Her visit to Poland this week coincided with a visit to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, by Chinese President Xi Jinping which included pledges to deepen ties.

Gërvalla-Schwarz said the Chinese leader's visit has implications for Europe because it shows that while Serbia is a European Union candidate state, it is "more and more identifying itself with the adversaries of the European Western democracies.”

“You cannot be at the same time a candidate state of the European Union and be the proxy of Russia in these times where Russia has declared the war not only to Ukraine but to the West as such," she said.

Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died until a 78-day NATO bombing campaign pushed Serbian forces out.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but the government in Belgrade doesn’t recognize its neighbor as a separate country.

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz attends the inauguration of her country's first diplomatic mission to Poland in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz attends the inauguration of her country's first diplomatic mission to Poland in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Kosovo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz speaks to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday May 8, 2024. Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine in order for conflict not to spread further in Europe, stressing that her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

MIAMI (AP) — Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor each drove in two runs in a four-run first inning, star closer Edwin Díaz was not used in a save situation and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Sunday for just their second win in seven games.

Brandon Nimmo homered and Francisco Lindor singled twice following a 1-for-27 skid as the Mets rebounded from blowing a four-run, ninth-inning lead on Saturday and avoided a three-game sweep. New York stopped Miami’s four-game winning streak.

“You’re not defined by what you do the day before. You’re defined by how you get up from adversity,” Lindor said. “We wanted this one for sure. I think it’s important to win after a tough loss like that.”

Sean Manaea (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Sean Reid-Foley and Jake Diekman pitched an inning each, and Reed Garrett got his second save by allowing one hit over two innings with four strikeouts in a 34-pitch outing.

Díaz has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings. He has blown three of his last four save chances.

“We all believe in him. We all know he’s going to be back,” Garrett said. “Whenever my name’s called, I’ll pitch, but I know as a collective unit we all believe in Edwin and we know what he can do.”

New York (21-25) had dropped five games under .500 on Saturday for the first time since an 0-5 start.

“Not an easy weekend, not the way we expected, but we just have to continue to move forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Today was a huge win for us.”

With New York ahead 4-3, Nimmo hit a two-run homer off Anthony Bender in a three-run ninth that included Brett Baty’s RBI single.

“I was just looking for a good pitch in the middle of the plate to drive,” Nimmo said. “I was able to hit that ball — good launch angle — and hit it hard. Found its way out of the ballpark.”

Nimmo returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games because of a stomach illness.

“I’m coming around,” Nimmo said. “It’s been a little bit of a journey the last three days to get over the sickness. Right now, I’m just trying to get some appetite back. I’m definitely not at 100%. Just trying to battle through it and glad that I was able to help out there at the end and solidify the win.”

Dane Myers hit a two-run homer in the second, and Christian Bethancourt had a solo drive in the seventh against DIekman.

Sixto Sánchez (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He gave up Taylor’s two-out double in the first and Bader’s single.

“He was obviously better second through the fourth inning but he put us in a hole early,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “At this level it’s hard to come back from four runs every single time. He’s not giving his teammates a chance to win.”

Miami recalled right-handed reliever Emmanuel Ramirez from Jacksonville and optioned right-handed reliever Anthony Maldonado to the Triple-A farm team.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: DH J.D. Martinez (flu symptoms) didn’t play but was available to pinch hit. Mendoza said Martinez played through the illness the prior two days.

Marlins: INF Tim Anderson (lower back tightness) homered and had three singles in five at-bats during a rehab game with Jacksonville on Saturday, then went 0 for 4 with a walk on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (0-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland on Monday. RHP Ben Lively (2-2, 3.06) will start for the Guardians.

Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.81) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Monday. The Brewers will go with RHP Joe Ross (2-4, 4.61).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Sean Manaea delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) and Francisco Lindor (12) congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Tyrone Taylor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader is unable to catch a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell for a double, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Marlins third base Emmanuel Rivera, right, tags out New York Mets' Harrison Bader as he slides into third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) catches a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell as both he and left fielder Tyrone Taylor (15) vie for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett, right, and catcher Omar Narvaez celebrate after the Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3, during a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)