Restore the authority of the UN where the charter and international law will be respected

Written for Kosovo Online by: Zeljko Sajn

Following the latest provocation against Russia by the United States, global fears of nuclear weapon use have intensified. The Biden administration, as it appears, remains unaccepting of Trump's defeat, while Zelensky, supported by the West, is taking military actions that could drag the planet into an apocalypse. Putin, although prioritizing peace, has a response to these provocations. However, this does not align with the current Anglo-Saxon leadership's agenda, giving Zelensky carte blanche to escalate the conflict onto Russian territory—a move even supported by France.

Russia's leadership, with President Vladimir V. Putin at the helm, continues to demonstrate diplomatic patience both in combat zones and toward the Ukrainian civilian population. Despite firing a medium-range ballistic missile, “Oreshnik,” targeting Dnipro in eastern Ukraine as a warning, Anglo-Saxons remain skeptical of the seriousness of Putin's warnings. Meanwhile, the French perceive themselves as being far removed from the conflict zone. However, sources indicate that Russian ballistic missiles could reach Brussels in just 210 seconds.

The example of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia demonstrates how pragmatism can sometimes be deceptive. In that instance, 19 NATO member states bombed both military and civilian targets, using NATO bases but evading accountability. At the time, Primakov merely turned his plane back to Moscow while en route to the United States, with Russia refraining from any significant intervention—whether due to military and political unpreparedness or the belief that such events would not affect them. This led to the disintegration of both Yugoslavia and the Warsaw Pact. A similar strategic approach seems to have been adopted this time by the Biden administration, supported by the French and British, assuming that Russia would not retaliate following attacks on its territory, such as the one on Kursk. Notably, Russia had both the capability and the right to respond back then with state-of-the-art nuclear weaponry. According to the International Criminal Court, countries with nuclear arsenals are not limited in their use of such weapons during wartime.

Under the guise of democracy, hypocritical policies have empowered Western ideology, safeguarded by NATO, aiming to establish a new global hegemonic order outside the UN framework, ignoring international law on territorial integrity and sovereignty. A glaring example is the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and the secession of Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia. Wars have devastated communist nations, including Yugoslavia, with the ultimate goal being the disintegration of the USSR and the seizure of natural resources to achieve global dominance. Thirty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Russia is reestablishing itself militarily, economically, and politically. However, a new order based on balance between the Anglo-Saxons and representatives of the East and Global South is still awaited.

In a 2018 interview with Politika, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared Russia the main culprit for the global political and security situation. Few at the time recognized the significance of his statement and its implications.

“We are facing the most complex and unpredictable security situation in a generation. Instability in the Middle East and North Africa, an assertive Russia violating international borders, North Korea's nuclear armament, and intercontinental ballistic missile development are fundamental threats to global security and stability," Stoltenberg stated in 2018.

Four years later, the war in Ukraine began, with Russia being labeled the primary threat to peace. Stoltenberg's comments also raise questions about who violated international borders during NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, an action he justified as necessary.

Leaders of BRICS, led by Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Modi, have unanimously conveyed to the Anglo-Saxons their readiness to end the war and discuss peace and a new world order based on institutional reforms, particularly of the UN, as a foundation for peace. Potential Security Council additions such as Brazil, India (nuclear powers), and possibly South Africa are being discussed. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who attended the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, called for pragmatism and abandoning theoretical actions, indirectly supporting Putin’s statements despite Western criticism of his attendance and interaction with BRICS leaders.

Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Josep Borrell suggests a potential handshake between Putin and Trump, the newly elected U.S. president, following his inauguration on January 20, 2025. This could lead to discussions with new leaders of France and Germany after their respective elections. It is anticipated that Trump will support Ukraine and prior U.S. decisions on Kosovo but that final resolutions will emerge at a negotiation table featuring Trump, Putin, and their allies, discussing a balanced multipolar world where natural resources underpin peace.

While Trump could champion the Anglo-Saxon world upon taking office, uncertainty looms over the Biden administration's intentions. Conversely, leaders of India, China, and Russia have constitutional provisions enabling continued leadership, requiring no legal changes as Trump might need in the U.S.

In the meantime, Serbia has solidified its international credibility under President Vucic, positioning itself as a vital player between BRICS and the Anglo-Saxon powers. Its role in facilitating peace has been proven through dialogues with Trump, Putin, Xi Jinping, Scholz, and Ursula von der Leyen. Serbia’s best chance to maintain Kosovo and Metohija within its constitutional framework lies in advocating for a reformed UN. Restoring the authority and reputation of this global organization, ensuring respect for the UN Charter and international law, will preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty worldwide.