... dialogue between two leaders who actually understood each other’s expectations. Serbia is seeking to ensure energy security in a volatile international environment, while Russia is looking to keep in its sphere of influence an ally with weight in the Balkans. Declarations about traditionally fraternal and close Russia–Serbia relations effectively mask a lot of pragmatism; it is precisely this pragmatism that underpins the real value of bilateral relations between Moscow and Belgrade today.
Pressure ...
... process of its formation is in full swing. But if at the global level the implementation of Eurasian security is increasingly taking on certain outlines, then at the regional level there are still a number of questions that have yet to be answered. The Balkans have traditionally been one of the most difficult regions with regards to security, and perhaps the Eurasian alternative could untie many of the Gordian knots there. In this article, we will try to define the possible contours of the implementation ...
... held a roundtable on “The Balkan Region in the Eurasian Security System.” The event took place in a hybrid format and brought together representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with leading Russian and Serbian experts on the Balkans.
The discussion focused on the emerging structure of Eurasian security—its conceptual foundations, prospects for full-scale implementation, and wider systemic dimensions. Participants compared European and Eurasian security models, assessed ...
... EU Delegation to Russia; Michael Siebert, Managing Director for Russia, Eastern partnership, Central Asia, Regional cooperation and OSCE in the European External Action Service; and Marko Makovec, Deputy Managing Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans, Turkey and the UK at the European External Action Service.
On the part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in the Russian Federation, the speakers and participants included: Bogdan Batic,...
... Russia-Serbia mutually beneficial cooperation, which is possible in the near or medium term, provided that Moscow has a more systemic and clear approach to the entire spectrum of processes taking place not only in Serbia and its regions, but in the Balkans in general.
Experts agreed that the coronavirus pandemic has had a serious destructive impact on bilateral cooperation in many areas, in particular, scientific, educational and economic. The participants also agreed that today Russia needs to ...
On June 8, 2020, Russian International Affairs Council, the Embassy of Croatia in Russia, and the Delegation of the European Union to Russia held a joint online workshop to discuss the EU-Russia relations in the Western Balkans
On June 8, 2020, Russian International Affairs Council, the Embassy of Croatia in Russia, and the Delegation of the European Union to Russia held a joint online workshop to discuss the EU-Russia relations in the Western Balkans.
The discussion ...
... red-lines. However, other issues with the potential to spark crises or otherwise accelerate the drift toward confrontation have received less attention in the bilateral U.S.-Russia context.
The group identified the strategic competition in the Western Balkans, the future of the nuclear non- proliferation regime, and sanctions as areas that could significantly impact U.S.-Russia relations in the future, but where Washington and Moscow lack clarity about one another’s intentions and about the potential ...
... the development of Moldova as a whole, are inextricably linked to Romania and Ukraine. Turkey is a strategic ally of Azerbaijan and the primary geopolitical opponent of Armenia. Meanwhile, Russia is looking for ways to build up its positions in the Balkans. The self-determination of the former Serbian Autonomous Province of Kosovo is of vital importance to the Black Sea Region as a whole. Some see it as an example of “humanitarian intervention” and so-called “remedial secession” to prevent ...
... divergence of stances on the Donbass settlement will have a particularly negative effect on relations. The intensification of sub-regional competition between Russia and the European Union (this competition appears to be particularly dangerous in the Western Balkans, given the possibility of an acute political crisis in one or more of the countries in the region). The intensification of the information war in Europe (in particular, the European Union may approve a “blacklist” of Russian media outlets,...
... Euro-Atlantic integration. In this respect, interaction between Russia and the West still has a significant influence on the situation. European countries and the European Union as a whole, as well as the United States, are stepping up their activity in the Balkans in a big way. Russia has also increased its presence in the region, relying to a greater degree on economic and humanitarian cooperation. However, the Balkans remain attractive for other actors as well, with Turkey, China and the Persian Gulf ...
