Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that Russia may instigate fresh crises in the Balkans and Moldova as a strategy to divert global attention away from the ongoing war in Ukraine. While Russia’s influence in the Western Balkans has waned in recent years, Moscow maintains close ties with pro-Russian politicians in Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Moldova. Zelenskiy suggested that Russia and its ally Iran could be orchestrating events in the Middle East as a convenient distraction of Western powers’ attention from Ukraine. He urged the international community to take notice of the Balkans and indicated that Russia might have a long-term plan to create instability in the region if preventive measures are not taken.
There have been fears since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that Moscow could seek to destabilise Bosnia, where the pro-Russian president of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, has long been agitating for secession. The volatile situation in northern Kosovo has also been a concern. Zelenskyy raised concerns about Russia’s alleged efforts to undermine the situation in Moldova, which has part of its territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE NEWS
Ukraine’s Warning to Balkans and Moldova
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