"Moscow denies the reporting of Kosovo media that Russia, France and the United States have allegedly agreed on recognizing Kosovo." This has been stated at a press briefing held by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zahkarova.
Serbian-Russian bilateral trade volume has been on a rise over the past several years and the goal is to reach the 2008 level of 4 billion dollars. Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica Dacic said this Thursday, adding that the 2018 trade volume had been 3.6 billion dollars - 500 million more than in 2017, Tanjug is reporting.
The European Union has minimised the impact China has on the Balkans, the bloc’s Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn has said on Tuesday, adding he is worried about the level of loans for infrastructural projects those countries take from Beijing, the Beta news agency reported.
In an interview with Financial Times, Hahn said such loans increased the risk for those countries in the long run.
According to him, the EU would have been a more fair partner.
"The provisional Pristina institutions PM saying that the so-called 'Kosovo Army' could enter the north of Kosovo is a threat to the entire region's peace," stated Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin.
He told the public broadcaster, RTS, that the Serbian Army was "confident, strong and capable of preserving peace and stability throughout the country."
The European Parliament’s former rapporteur on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Doris Pack, spoke out on Tuesday against changes to borders in the Balkans.
Former MEP expressed surprise over the fact that the Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci, support the proposed territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo.
Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon says the US is worried about "Russia's meddling in the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Western Balkans."
"Russia seeks to derail Euro-Atlantic perspective of the countries such as North Macedonia and Montenegro through the aggressive approach and deterrence," Pahon told Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda.
He added that the US "see North Macedonia and Montenegro are willing to choose freedom and success and everything that the West can offer."
Russia considers unacceptable the statement made by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama about Kosovo being "a part of Albania."
This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova last Friday.
At a regular press briefing, Zakharova said that Russia cannot remain without comment on this statement. Rama also said that "unification of Kosovo and Albania is not 'plan B' but 'plan A'," Sputnik is reporting.
Ambassador of Russian Federation to Serbia Alexander Chepurin said Russia supports neutral stance of Serbia and peaceful resolution of Kosovo issues based on respecting the international law, Tanjug news agency reported.
He made these remarks last night at the Russian Embassy during the ceremony to mark the Day of Fatherland Defenders.
“Serbia would have enough strength and patience to stand temptations,” Ambassador Chepurin noted.
Commenting on Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic statement that the demarcation with Pristina was Belgrade's official idea, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zaharova said Moscow had not changed its policy towards Kosovo, the Beta news agency reported on Wednesday.
“Our position hasn't changed, “ she said, without elaborating.
Russian Federation Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Chepurn said that the free trade zone between Serbia and Eurasian Economic Union would soon be established and it only remains that the decision is confirmed at Intergovernmental Council, RTS reports.