NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) received a request from Belgrade for the return of police and military forces from Serbia to Kosovo. It is reported by Radio Liberty.

“We received a letter from Serbia, and now we are analyzing it. KFOR remains very cautious and fully capable of fulfilling its UN mandate,” the mission said in response to an inquiry from Radio Liberty..

On December 16, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said that the country's armed forces had submitted a request to KFOR for the return of up to a thousand Serbian army soldiers and police officers to Kosovo..

Vucevic informed the President and Prime Minister that the Serbian Armed Forces had submitted a written request by sending the necessary documentation by email.. According to him, Serbia “formally and technically” initiated the procedure.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he plans to demand the return of Serbian troops to Kosovo. However, it expects the request to be rejected.

US Special Representative for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said Washington is categorically against the return of Serbian forces to Kosovo. According to him, Kosovo has strong security from the United States.

Serbia notes that it needs to send members of its security forces due to the increased presence of the Kosovo police in northern Kosovo.

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Kosovo declared independence in 2008. At the same time, Serbia considers the region to be its territory.. Kosovo's independence is recognized by half of the UN countries, including the United States and most of the EU and NATO countries. Ukraine and Russia did not recognize the independence of Kosovo.

All participants in the next aggravation between Serbia and Kosovo understand that a military clash cannot be allowed. After all, it will be a war not so much between Serbia and Kosovo, but between Serbia and Kosovo and NATO. What the end of his political career would mean for the Serbian president at best. But steps towards war have been taken. Apparently, not without the help of Russia. For more details, see the article by Vladimir Tsybulnik “Blockade in Northern Kosovo: a step towards war or peace”?