Zelensky Warns About Target for Putin's Next 'Distraction'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia could be preparing to start a war in the Balkan region to divert attention from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia may create new crises in the Balkans to create a distraction from the 20-month old war, Zelensky told reporters on Thursday.

Last month, Newsweek reported that another potential war in Europe is brewing amid rising tensions between two longtime foes in the Balkans—Kosovo and Serbia—after one of the worst episodes of violence between the two nations since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies assessed in April 2022 that Russia's strong economic, military and soft power connections, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, have raised concerns that Moscow might try to further destabilize the Balkan region to deflect attention from its "flawed campaign" in Ukraine.

"Today, everyone is discussing the crisis in the Middle East. But like I said before, frankly, it's not yesterday's problem. Everyone knows about this constant conflict and constant war, but no one wants to end it because it is convenient," Zelensky said.

"Behind the 'explosion' in the Middle East is Russia, we are sure, with its ally Iran," he said, although there is no evidence indicating Moscow's alleged role in the current conflict between Israeli forces and the Hamas militant group in Gaza.

On October 7, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history, with Israel subsequently launching its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza. More than 1,200 people in Israel have been killed, the Associated Press reported. More than 11,200 Palestinians in Gaza have died, the AP said on Thursday, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Institute for the Study of War think tank has suggested that Russia might benefit from the shift in international attention away from the war in Ukraine and toward the situation in the Middle East.

Zelensky urged the world to pay attention to the Balkans.

"Believe me, we are getting the information. Russia has a long plan: Middle East, the second distraction will be the Balkans," he said. "At least if the countries of the world don't do anything now, then there will be another such 'explosion,' and again, this is not a new story. Russia will invest in ensuring that one Balkan country fights another."

Zelensky suggested that Russia seeks to push the West to spread out financial aid, which has largely been focused on supporting Ukraine in the ongoing war.

"When you want to help one country or you start to distribute that help and attention to many countries, then there are many challenges, many humanitarian challenges," he said.

Newsweek has reached out to Russia's Foreign Ministry via email for comment.

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