Renowned American expert in diplomacy and conflict management Edward P. Joseph has put forward a proposal that is generating serious debate in Washington and across Europe: bringing both Kosovo and Serbia into NATO as part of a broader strategy to undermine Russian influence in Europe.
Joseph, currently a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University – SAIS, also advocates for applying elements of the Kosovo model to Ukraine’s Donbas region, arguing that this approach could help resolve the conflict while weakening Moscow’s geopolitical leverage.
The Balkans as a frontline of hybrid warfare
According to Joseph, the Balkans should not be viewed as a peripheral region, but rather as a central theater in Russia’s hybrid war against the West.
“Ukraine is the kinetic dimension of the war. The Balkans are the hybrid dimension. And Serbia is the platform through which Russia projects its influence in the region,” Joseph stated.
He emphasized that detaching Serbia from Moscow’s orbit would deliver a devastating blow to Russia’s strategy in Southeast Europe.
“Bringing Serbia into NATO would be like sinking the cruiser ‘Moskva’ for Russia in the Balkans,” Joseph said, comparing the geopolitical impact to the symbolic and military loss Russia suffered in the Black Sea.
Serbia under pressure
Joseph noted that 96 percent of Chinese investments in the Balkans are concentrated in Serbia, while Russia uses Belgrade to block Kosovo internationally and fuel anti-NATO narratives.
He stressed that the idea is not theoretical, but grounded in current political realities.
“Serbia is already under pressure due to Russian control over NIS. That pressure must be accelerated. Belgrade is being forced to detach itself from Moscow,” he argued.
Joseph added that President Aleksandar Vučić is facing a deep internal political crisis, and that a NATO pathway proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, who enjoys notable popularity in Serbia, would carry exceptional weight.
“A NATO path proposed by Trump could not be ignored by Vučić,” Joseph said.
Kosovo and NATO: ‘The game is over’
A central pillar of the proposal is that Kosovo should be offered a clear path to NATO membership, regardless of Serbia’s position.
“The moment Kosovo has a path to NATO, Serbia’s diplomatic blocking strategy collapses. The game is essentially over,” Joseph emphasized.
He added that NATO membership is far more critical for Kosovo than UN membership, drawing a parallel with Ukraine’s experience.
Applying the Kosovo model to Ukraine
Regarding Ukraine, Joseph proposed adapting the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 model, which deliberately left Kosovo’s final status open.
“The Kosovo model removes sovereignty from the immediate table and creates space for genuine negotiations,” he explained.
Under this framework, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would not be ‘ceding territory’, but instead placing Donbas under international administration, backed by peacekeeping forces and followed by a final referendum.
“The irony is that Putin himself insists Kosovo and Ukraine are identical cases. That is precisely the argument the West should use against him,” Joseph said.
Warning for Europe
Joseph warned that without stabilizing the Balkans, Europe will remain vulnerable to authoritarian interference.
“If you remove the Russia–Serbia strategic partnership, the architecture of Russia’s hybrid warfare collapses,” he stressed.
He called for immediate action, including:
- Sanctions against RT and Sputnik
- Closure of Russian intelligence centers
- Accelerated Euro-Atlantic integration of the region
