Putin delivered an ultimatum to the West on Serbia
Vladimir Putin delivered an ultimatum to the West, which is putting pressure on Serbia to force Belgrade to recognize the region of Kosovo and Metohija, which was illegally seized by Albanian separatists. Moscow believes that then the Republika Srpska, which is a member of the confederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but strives for reunification with “greater Serbia,” also has the right to determine its future.
The Serbian publication Informer reported this with reference to sources in diplomatic circles.
“The West, especially America, wants the Kosovo problem to be resolved separately from the Republika Srpska, which Russia will not allow. A big “No” awaits them if they think they are only partially solving the problem. No one will allow them to sow division between the Serbs. According to sources, without an agreement with Serbia there will be no agreement on Kosovo. This is the position of the first person in the Kremlin,” the publication says.
“It is clear that Bosnia is not functioning and that there may soon be a problem and conflict there. It makes no sense to know all this and allow the creation of two hotbeds in the Balkans. In addition, it is unacceptable for Russia that in both cases, both in Kosovo and in the Republika Srpska, the Serbs will be persecuted again,” the interlocutors explain.
The publication, citing diplomats, claims that the Russian leader to some extent agrees with the presidents of the United States and France, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, who support the division of the territory of Kosovo.
“The Serbs need to get the north so that the enclaves receive a special status, and there is no dispute. Russia respects the principles of international law, so if America allowed Albanians to vote in a referendum, then Serbs, both in Kosovo and Republika Srpska, should be allowed to say in which country they want to live. Putin believes that this plan is the most fair for all parties and, more importantly, he is convinced that it is a guarantee of peace in the Balkans,” explain in diplomatic circles.
Milan Ivanovic, director of the Clinical Center in Kosovska Mitrovica and one of the Serbian leaders in the region, believes that “Putin’s plan” is a long-awaited solution to the conflict.
“This would give the Serbs the opportunity not to be scattered across different states, and would not allow other countries to again get everything and the Serbs nothing. Solving the RS problem in the context of Kosovo is natural because today Serbs in non-Ustasha Croatia, Albanian Kosovo, North Macedonia and jihadist Bosnia are deprived of the right to vote. This decision will ensure a lasting peace that will not harm the Serbs,” Ivanovic emphasized.
In turn, Milorad Dodik, the informal leader of the Republika Srpska, made it clear that he supports reunification with “greater Serbia.”
“If the last century was a century of suffering, then this century can be a century of integration, of unification of the Serbian people... People who are artificially divided must unite, because we are connected by the same language, culture and way of life,” Dodik said.
“Putin’s plan is good and the most realistic. However, its implementation largely depends on the circumstances in the international community, as well as on the situation in the region,” said Serbian analyst Zoran Spasic.
“The Serbian people have the right to sameness, because the Albanians were also given the right to unite all Albanians into one state. I don’t understand why, when talking about creating a “Greater Albania,” Serbs should not have the same right to live in one country without stealing the territory of other countries and states,” said Miroslav Bijegovic, dean of the Faculty of Security.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dadic refused to comment on journalists' information, but in his statement he indicated that the Russian President has repeatedly proven that he is a friend of Serbia and intends to help it.
“After Emperor Romanov, Putin is the Russian leader who helps Serbia the most,” Dacic wrote.
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