BALKAN PRESS REVIEW

In the spotlight: war in Ukraine, Putin's crimes and the responsibilities of the West

Residents of Kharkiv sheltering from the attacks settled in a metro station in the city, here on the night of March 10 to 11, 2022. © AFP / EMRE CAYLAK

Text by: Courrier des Balkans Follow |

Simon Rico Follow

3 mins

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The world seems close to a nuclear war.

But how to understand the roots of the crisis?

According to Croatian philosopher Srećko Horvat, Vladimir Putin's crimes in Ukraine should not exculpate NATO of its responsibilities.

.

Will Moldova be the Kremlin's next target?

Transnistria, a pro-Russian secessionist republic, requested recognition of its independence on Friday March 4, the day after Chișinău applied for membership of the European Union.

.

Welcoming refugees

The small country, bordering Ukraine, has seen the arrival of nearly 300,000 refugees on its soil since the start of the war, i.e. more than 10% of its population.

to cope.

In Slovenia, the ultra-conservative government promises to welcome up to 200,000 Ukrainians fleeing the fighting.

A position that contrasts with its “ 

 ” policy, aligned with the Hungarian position of Viktor Orbán since 2016. The Minister of the Interior justifies this new

.

Which caused an uproar.

The Greek authorities, for their part, are trying to organize the evacuation of all the members of the Greek minority in Ukraine who so wish.

But most of these 100,000 people live in the Mariupol region, surrounded and shelled by Russian soldiers.

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Serbia leans towards Moscow, its neighbors are worried

Much has been said in recent days about the impossible " 

 " of Serbia, which refuses to sanction Moscow.

In the country, a good part of public opinion leans on the Russian side,

.

Demonstrations of support also took place in Belgrade and the mobilization of pro-Russian volunteers is organized again, around Bratislav Živković, self-proclaimed " 

 ".

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But the war in Ukraine also poses many economic questions in the Balkans, where inflation is exploding.

after the embargo announced by the United States on Russian hydrocarbons.

More than three-quarters of its gas supplies are delivered to it by Gazprom, while Lukoil controls the country's only refinery.

Its nuclear energy is even 100% dependent on Russia.

Security issues are also on everyone's lips.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 500 additional soldiers from the European military mission Eufor arrive

.

With a double objective: to reassure the population and avoid any escalation of tensions.

For its part, Kosovo insists on

as possible, explaining that Russia could use Serbia to destabilize all of the Western Balkans.

Two Kosovo veterans testify

Serbia is campaigning for the legislative, presidential and partial municipal elections on April 3 and the all-powerful outgoing president, Aleksandar Vučić, has just officially submitted his candidacy for a second term.

To ensure victory,

.

This week, the Balkans celebrated International Women's Day with great solemnity, a date that remains important in most of these former communist countries.

On this occasion, our correspondent in Kosovo met two former UÇK fighters, the guerrillas who fought against the Serbian army in 1998-99.

A special experience, in a very virile environment.

, which deliver another look at the war.

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