Russia could inflame tensions in the Balkans and create a new war to tear the West apart if it prevails in its war with Ukraine. This is what Kosovo’s chief diplomat Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz said during an interview.

According to her, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s territorial ambitions do not stop at the Ukrainian border – and that Ukraine’s victory against Russia would ensure stability in the Balkans, which have been troubled for years.

“Putin’s strategy is to keep the West distracted with various conflicts,” she said. “So another war in the Balkans would be very welcome by Russia.” Kosovo in particular is a tempting target for Putin, she added, because the country’s prosperity undermines his argument that the West cannot help former Eastern bloc countries.

“Putin talks about Kosovo every week”, said Gërvalla. “It has nothing to do with the geopolitical importance of Kosovo, but it has to do with the fact that Kosovo is a success story of the West, a success story of the United States of America, it is a success story of NATO, a success story of countries Western European”.