Vucic announced Kosovo’s plans to attack the Serbs during a new counterattack by Kyiv

The prime minister of the self-proclaimed Kosovo, Albin Kurti, plans to organize an attack on the Serbs at a time when Ukraine launches a new attack as part of a counteroffensive. This was stated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

According to the Serbian leader, Kyiv plans to conduct an offensive in two directions – towards Artemovsk and towards Energodar and Melitopol. Vučić added that this would happen “with huge sacrifices”.

“When it starts, you will see Kurti offensive in Kosovo. <...> I’m afraid that terror will become even stronger. He introduces himself as [президента Украины Владимира] Zelensky, the new Albanian leader who will unite all Albanian lands,” Vučić said on TV Prva (quote according to TASS).

The Serbian president expects a new attack on Kyiv could take place before the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11-12, as Ukraine sees the counter-offensive as a step that will allow it to get a “ticket to join NATO.”

In the middle of June Vučić declaredthat Kurti, by his actions against the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, “is trying to provoke a war in the very heart of Europe.” Serbia, in his words, “is doing everything possible to preserve peace.” Vučić later stressed that Belgrade would not allow Serbs to be evicted from the region. He declaredthat Serbia will no longer inform the world community about its plans in the defense sphere, with the exception of obligations to NATO.

On May 26, another aggravation took place in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. Protests erupted in several Serb-majority municipalities over the outcome of the last election, which was won by Albanians despite a record low turnout as the local population boycotted the elections.

Serbian protesters demanded the cancellation of the results and the resignation of the heads of municipalities. In response, the Kosovo police fired tear gas and stun grenades in some municipalities. On the same day, the Serbian army was put on full alert and advanced to the administrative border with Kosovo.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions of the Kosovo authorities in connection with “new anti-Serb provocations.” The US and EU also criticized Pristina’s actions and called for a de-escalation in the region.