Russian official: We are willing to help Belgrade with guns if asked

Tensions have increased, with concerns that Vladimir Putin is trying to expand the existing conflict by exacerbating ethnic divisions among Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs.

Russia has said that it absolutely supports Serbia, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who added: “We are close to Serbs in Kosovo, we believe these are completely unreasonable requests”.

Moscow supports Belgrade's constructive position, which has been declared by Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, adding: “of course, we believe that those countries that have recognised Kosovo and that are guarantors, should use all their influence to warn Kosovo authorities against taking such steps that lead towards the” crossing, Peskov said.

On the other hand, Russian Federation Council member Vladimir Dzhabarov told the RIA agency that “in the event of a deterioration of the situation around Serbia, Russia would help Belgrade without taking a direct part in the conflict”.

He did not rule out the possibility of supplying with weapons to Serbia if Belgrade would require such a thing. /Periscopi/