Djukic: Vucic will respond to Putin's call and bow to him, Russian influence in Kosovo is evident

Diplomat Srecko Djukic told N1 he expected Vucic would reconsider due to the significance of the "Russian factor" in Serbia's internal and external politics. "I immediately assumed that, despite initially declining the invitation, Vucic would reconsider. Putin and Russia are too important for Vucic, not just internationally but also domestically. His pro-Russian electoral base would struggle to understand if he casually dismissed Putin's invitation," Djukic said.

He added that Vulin's recent visit to Russia was significant for the Serbian President. He predicted that Vucic would attend the summit in Kazan, despite his promises to Western leaders. "The Russian factor is crucial for Vucic and his allies, representing the majority anti-Western sentiment within Serbia," Djukic emphasized.

Regarding Putin’s messages to Vucic during Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin's visit, Djukic argued that the real purpose was to "bring" Vucic to Kazan, as it would be a significant prestige matter for Putin. “Putin wants Vucic there as a sign of European support for his summit," he explained.

Djukic also highlighted unresolved issues in Serbian-Russian relations, such as Serbia's purchase of Rafale jets and its shift away from Russian aviation technology. "Serbia, like Croatia, is making a significant pivot away from Russian aircraft. This represents a loss of a large and important market for Russia," he noted.

Other unresolved issues include lithium and energy resources, which haven’t been discussed at the highest levels for years. "When negotiations begin, Russia will communicate its positions, and they won’t be the same as five or six years ago," Djukic added.

Finally, the diplomat addressed Kosovo, asserting that Russian influence is evident in recent events there. "If you carefully observe what's happening in Kosovo, you can see the Russian hand behind it. Russia is pulling the strings in Kosovo," he said. Russia is closely monitoring developments in Kosovo and adjusting its stance accordingly, leaving open the possibility of changing its position on Kosovo's independence and potential UN membership.