Jeremic: Trump–Putin meeting frustrated Europe; Kosovo could become a “field of rivalry”

Former FRY ambassador to Germany Zoran Jeremic assessed that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, focused on Ukraine, shows the interest of these two powers in resolving key global issues on their own, and that this is a frustrating moment for Europe. He stressed that the issue of Kosovo is currently outside the focus of the great powers, but it could become their “field of rivalry.”

“Europeans are already extremely frustrated because they have been pushed aside in these talks and shoved into a corner. If any initiative emerges, they will grab it with both hands to ensure their presence and role as an important factor in resolving any other issue, especially one located in Europe and which they consider to be exclusively or largely within their competence,” Jeremic told Kosovo Online.

He emphasized that precisely the question of “competence” regarding Kosovo is the most dangerous.

“It will become a field of rivalry between the US and Europe, in which they will compete over who will be the first to propose solutions, and of what kind, often to our detriment, though possibly to our benefit. But that will depend on how the situation develops. In any case, Europe will try, if it comes to that, to act as an independent factor in that domain,” Jeremic said.

The former diplomat pointed out that the Trump–Putin meeting indicates the leaders of these two countries intend to decide on all major global issues by themselves.

“They are already doing that. I am convinced that negotiations on Gaza or the Middle East, with Iran, have already advanced considerably. We see that the situation around the conflict with China and the South China Sea is becoming more complicated. They will try to resolve this within their triangle of three great powers. But where it is possible to act bilaterally, the US and Russia will attempt to do so,” Jeremic said.

When asked whether the “Alaska” model could be applied to the question of Kosovo, Jeremic explained that it would depend on how the situation develops.

“I don’t believe that will now be the focus of their interest. First, because they are occupied with a range of other issues, and second, because they do not have concrete, visible strategic interests here,” Jeremic argued.

He clarified that Kosovo could become a “bargaining chip” between Russia and the US at the moment when it suits both sides.

“For now, the US and the West, Europe, have achieved their strategic interests in Kosovo. Russia has not, and it will seek, as much as needed, to include it in its trade-off with the US, but only at the moment when it suits both itself and Trump, if he deems it necessary to engage. Whether this will follow the recipe of ‘we resolve this ourselves, and you can take it or leave it,’ or whether they will strive to include, in the most active way, above all us, since this is about us, remains to be seen. But for now, there is not a single element showing there is any intention to resolve the issue of Kosovo in such a manner in the near future,” Jeremic underlined.