Vučić on KFOR's Kosovo actions: 'We must be patient, smart'

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced he would convene with the Chief of Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Milan Mojsilović, on Monday evening to address recent activities by the NATO-led KFOR mission in Kosovo. The meeting comes as KFOR has initiated a gradual withdrawal of its permanent presence from the Main Bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica, a significant crossing that divides the city's Serb-majority north from its ethnic Albanian south.

President Vučić stated he was not surprised by these developments, linking them to what he described as NATO's original intention to separate Kosovo from Serbia. "They have to finish their game, and they will continue doing that, while we must be patient, smart, and ensure we don’t rush headlong into things," Vučić told Serbian state television (RTS). His remarks emphasize a call for strategic restraint and careful consideration in navigating the evolving situation.

The Serb List party, a prominent political group backed by Belgrade, has voiced strong opposition to any reduction or withdrawal of KFOR forces from the vital bridge connecting North and South Mitrovica. The party has formally requested an emergency meeting with KFOR Commander General Ozkan Ulutas to discuss the matter, according to reports from the Beta news agency.

The transition of KFOR's presence at the bridge marks a notable shift in the security landscape of the region. The bridge itself is a symbolic and practical dividing line in Kosovska Mitrovica, and changes to KFOR's deployment there are closely watched by all parties involved.

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They have to finish their game, and they will continue doing that, while we must be patient, smart, and ensure we don’t rush headlong into things.