The latest gas deal proves that Serbia is not breaking away from its pro-Russian policy, and even deepens its dependence on the state of Vladimir Putin, who is already suspected of war crimes in Ukraine.

This is what the professor of international relations Ibrahim Gashi states, who says that the institutions of Kosovo should be committed to prove to Brussels that Belgrade can become an obstacle for the European integration of the entire Western Balkans and is becoming a threat to security in the region.

Gashi advises Kosovo institutions to return to the US gas project as a response to Serbia's moves in relation to Russia.

This agreement, according to him, can hold hostage the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia through which it aims to achieve mutual recognition between the two countries.

However, Serbia should also become a tool in Russia's hands to destabilize the Western Balkans whenever it suits Putin.

"Now it seems that Russia needs to keep Serbia away from integration processes, to keep Serbia as an exponent of the Balkans through which it will hinder the policies of integration of the Balkans into Euro-Atlantic institutions, to hinder the dialogue process Kosovo- Serbia which is allegedly going to have a final agreement through which Serbia will recognize Kosovo and here Russia is still calculating to use Serbia, and eventually if Serbia's recognition of Kosovo is to happen, Russia will have its benefits.

The policy of this agreement through a phone call speaks a lot about the influence that Russia has on Serbia even now.

The university professor considers that Serbia is not changing its attitude towards Russia, on the contrary, it is deepening its dependence on Putin.

"The non-involvement in the imposition of sanctions and now the renewal of a gas agreement shows that Serbia is not breaking away from its pro-Russian policy from its pro-Russian dependence.

"All these obstructions that Serbia makes to the European integration processes of the Western Balkans are direct obstructions that can in fact have consequences and will have consequences in prolonging the integration process of the Western Balkans", he said.

Gashi emphasizes that despite Kosovo claiming integration into the European Union, the main goal currently should be NATO integration.

He considers Serbia's close ties with Russia a threat to peace in the region.

"Such a situation should be used by the institutions of Kosovo, a lot of pressure should be put on Brussels regarding the obstructions that Belgrade is making to the integration processes and contacts and the close ties that it is maintaining with Russia even further," and maybe if not in the EU because of the lengthy administrative procedures, then NATO integration should be aimed at because these close ties of Serbia with Russia are no less threatening to peace and security in the region, and in the first place in Kosovo and Bosnia, so I think Kosovo should aim through international support should continue lobbying to create an international climate and opinion that Kosovo should be included in NATO, I see it a little easier maybe even more with priority Kosovo's membership in NATO,"first in the Partnership for Peace and then in NATO", stressed Gashi.

The expert on international relations says that a good response to Serbia's actions would be the signing of an agreement on American gas.

"Certainly a good response would be to sign an agreement on American gas which was left by the Government without a response, in fact it was said that it is still being studied.

I think that the Government has taken the right time to study this project and it is time to come up with an approval of this project and that sometimes these economic projects have a political connotation and have political messages and it should be a political message that Kosovo is "The approval of this gas project would be in line with the United States of America. The government must show its readiness now," he said.

The European Union has also reacted to the continuation of the gas agreement between Serbia and Russia, asking Serbia not to further strengthen its ties with Russia.

There were also reactions from Kosovar leaders.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has chosen to join a war criminal and finance Putin's war.

Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia after unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.

/ KP / Telegraphy /