Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow is maintaining communication with the United States regarding the Balkans and is ready to further develop such contacts.
“We have more opportunities to communicate with the United States [than with the European Union] regarding the Balkans, particularly when it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the region. These contacts are ongoing. They have not yet produced any positive results or outcomes, but we are open to such engagement, and as far as I can tell, our American colleagues are also willing to pursue these contacts,” Lavrov was quoted as saying at a press conference, according to Reuters.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has contacted the U.S. State Department and the European Union for comment and is awaiting responses.
Lavrov’s remarks come at a time when senior figures in Kosovo, including President Vjosa Osmani, have repeatedly warned about the risk of Russian influence in the Balkans, portraying Serbia as an extended arm of Russia in the region.
Serbia maintains close relations with Russia and remains the only country in the region that has not imposed sanctions on Moscow over its war against Ukraine.
Political analysts have repeatedly told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that economic influence, disinformation, and the ability to exploit corrupt schemes are the three key tools through which Russia extends its influence in the Balkans. According to them, Serbia and Republika Srpska—the Serb entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina—are the most vulnerable to Russian influence, as these environments can fuel extreme nationalist sentiment.
