US: No Government in Bosnia Should Expand Co-operation With Russia · Global Voices

So has the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the warning of strengthening Russia's ties with Republika Srpska, which is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's two entities.

This comment by the American Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been made on 12 May, following the question that Radio Free Europe has addressed regarding Russian officials' warning of strengthening Russian and Republika Srpska ties,

“Russia's brutal and provoked fight against Ukraine has stressed the urgent need for all Western Balkan countries to carry out democratic reforms and other reforms necessary for the process of integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions”, said in response to the American Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, regarding Radio Free Europe's request to comment Kremitry Peskov's statement.

The United States will continue to stand side by the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they build a more prosperous and secure future in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations”, the American Embassy's response is said.

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who is under US sanctions, will go to Moscow this month to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What did Peskov say?

Dimitri Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview for Alternative Television from Banja Luka, close to Dodik, stressed Moscow's expectations that Serbia and Republika Srpska would not submit “Western pressure” to join sanctions against Russia.

Peskov said Belgrade is currently under much greater pressure from the West to impose sanctions on Russia than Republika Srpska authorities, which are blocking the deployment of these sanctions on the part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Peskov stressed that, when it comes to Republika Srpska, Russia “starts from the fact that these relations will continue to develop and that they will only be strengthened in all areas”.

The interview on this television, which is under US sanctions, has been registered in Moscow, the host has already implemented it in Russian. The interview was broadcast on May 10th evening.

In January 2022, the US Treasury Department placed Milorad Dodik on the list of sanctions due to corruption activities, efforts to violate the Dayton Agreement and jeopardise the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region.

As reported, sanctions were imposed on Alternative Television from Banja Luka because of its connection with Dodik, leader of the Party of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), this party leader in Republika Srpska.

In another interview, broadcast on Republika Srpska Radio Television, the same day that the interview with Peskov was published at ATV, Milorad Dodik announced he will meet Putin in Moscow, on May 23rd, which he has talked to in September last year.