According to reports, US troops are being sent into northern Kosovo following talks between Serbian leaders and Kosovo leaders broke down
Serbian media reports that the NATO-led Kosovo Force has intensified its patrols in the north of the province, amid tensions between Belgrade (and Pristina) on Saturday.
According to reports, troops were present in substantial numbers at two border checkpoints between Serbia and Kosovo. “intervene” if necessary.
Following the breakdown of talks on Thursday between Aleksandar Vucic (Serbian President) and Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo, this move was made.
“Today, there is no agreement,”Josep Borrell is the European Union’s foreign policy chief. He spoke following a EU-brokered meeting in Brussels.
Increased troop presence at the Jarinje and Brnjak checkpoints was needed “in order to increase awareness of the situation,” KFOR told the Serbian media as it confirmed additional deployments, including enhanced patrols.
“We would like to assure everyone that KFOR is ready to intervene, if necessary,”The NATO-led force stated. This development follows three days following the promise made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the military bloc would act if necessary “stability”Kosovo is in danger He also called for “all sides”You can find more information here “show restraint and avoid violence.”Vucic as well as Kurti were also present at the NATO chief’s meeting earlier in the week.
After the Kosovo province passed legislation requiring Serbs in Serbia to swap their passports with special Kosovo-issued documents, and for them to switch their Serbian plates for those issued by Kosovo, tensions are high between Serbian and Kosovo.
An announcement of the law was made by special police, heavily armed and taking over two Serbian border crossings. This prompted local Serbs to set up roadblocks as a protest. Belgrade, in turn, condemned Pristina’s actions. The Kosovo authorities were then willing to postpone the implementation of this law, in exchange for the dismantling of their barricades by protesters.
Moscow accused the West for fueling conflict between Belgrade & Pristina. It also pressured Serbia into adopting anti-Russian sanction supported by most of Europe. Kosovo claimed Russia is trying to divert international attention away from the military operations in Ukraine and blamed Russia.
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