Conflicts

Kosovo’s Prime Minister has warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would embolden Serbia to rekindle its expansionist ambitions.

Albin Kurti, who has led the country since 2021, told The Associated Press in an interview that the West must remain united behind Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia for over two years.

Albin Kurti argued that if Russia were to prevail, Serbia would feel empowered and could threaten the peace established in the Balkans for decades by attempting to annex countries like Bosnia, Montenegro, or North Macedonia.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo have remained tense for more than a decade, despite efforts by the European Union to mediate.

"These 25 years in this century, this has been a quarter of a century with the highest degree of peace, freedom and democracy in the Balkans," he said.

"Despotic President Putin would be encouraged to proceed further with his destabilization attempts, even more so if he feels successful in Ukraine. I really don’t want to believe that he can theoretically win. But him thinking that (he) can win is problematic enough", he admitted.

(QG - Associated Press / Picture: © Unsplash)