Serbian radicals want to start hostilities with Kosovo - Balkan Observer head Ishchenko

Radicals in Serbia with the support of Russia have the potential to undermine the situation around Kosovo; there may start a Serbian-Kosovo conflict with the participation of Russia.

Natalia Ishchenko, Balkan Observer project head, shared the information on Espreso TV.

"The conflict between Serbia and Kosovo should be considered in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is obvious that Russia wants to be involved in the Kosovo conflict in the context of negotiations with the global West. For Moscow, the war against Ukraine is part of the war with the Western world," she said.

According to Ishchenko, the Serbian-Kosovo front is another such conflict.

"This is a purely Russian war because Serbia relocates troops, puts them on alert, but keeps repeating they want peace. They do not declare that they are about to start a war, but there are radical forces in Serbia that are supported by Russia. They want to start hostilities," Ishchenko stressed.

She noted that in recent days these radical groups are assembling.

"They block roads, try to break through the checkpoints to Kosovo. They even had clashes with Serbian law enforcement officers who wanted to prevent provocations. This hybrid Russian component will gradually turn into a force component. We will have a Serbian-Kosovo conflict with Russian participation. We will see in the near future to what extent Russia will manage to destabilize the situation, but they have the potential to do so," Ishchenko concluded.