Policy Brief Between Continuity and Change: Russian Influence and Security Challenges in the Western Balkans Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine Jeta Loshaj January 2024 The impact that the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had on Europe’s political order, security architecture, and economic wellbeing – not to mention the great loss of innocent civilian lives – is colossal. The Western Balkans, a region still prone to instabili­ty where in many cases governance structures are yet to be consolidated, has felt the full effect of the war in Ukraine. The Western Balkans’ security architecture will be determined by how the EU and NATO respond. The EU, NATO, and the leaders of the WB need to collectively work harder to eliminate Russia’s opportunism for influence so that the region does not deviate from its path to Euro-Atlantic integration.