“Russian Sphere = Serbian Sphere”
EPA-EFE / Igor Kupplijenik
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic remarked that the events of 2016 in Montenegro bear resemblance to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
– Russia has been actively preparing for a form of historical revisionism, aiming to portray today’s Russia as relevant as the Soviet Union. This concept of the ‘Russian world’ has been mirrored in the Balkans as the ‘Serbian World’, Djukanovic remarked at the Balkan Integration Forum.
Djukanovic indicated that Russia’s preparation for revisionism has been overlooked by the West, particularly Europe.
– What led to the events of 2016 in Montenegro? Montenegro was on the brink of joining NATO. The goal was to prevent our NATO membership. We stood firm and joined NATO, but Russia continued its hybrid destruction tactics in the Balkans, establishing two hybrid bases—one in Serbia and the other in Republika Srpska. There is a significant presence of Russian media, intelligence, security agencies, and economic influence, alongside the manipulation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which some of our Western partners observed in 2020, Djukanovic commented.
In a discussion at the Presidential Panel titled Global Relations Amid the Ukrainian Crisis, Djukanovic stated that Russia has employed a “Brutal Repertoire” in Ukraine.
– Having faced setbacks in Montenegro, Russia chose to execute its aggression in Ukraine with brutality. They deny independent states the right to shape their own futures. While Ukraine suffers, the ultimate target remains the Western value system. We must respond decisively to thwart the aggressor, Djukanovic asserted.
He emphasized that there is no rusophobia present in Montenegro.
– Eleven years ago, we celebrated three centuries of diplomatic relations, yet today we find ourselves labeled among enemy nations. If we fail to defeat the aggressor now, we will be legitimizing the rights of future aggressors, Djukanovic noted, as reported by Podgorica news.