On March 1, 2025, “Euronews.rs” published an article titled, “Zakharova: Russia’s stance on the Kosovo and M issue has not changed.”

The article presents statements from the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, who emphasized that Moscow continues to hold the same position regarding Kosovo’s status, based on history and international law.

According to her, Russia’s position remains unchanged as it is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which, according to the Kremlin’s narrative, calls Kosovo’s statehood into question.

“Neither history nor international law has changed, so why would our position?” Zakharova stated.

Her statement was also shared by other media outlets such as: Naslovi.net, Alo.rs, Politika.rs, Kosovo Online, Vreme.com.

The Russian narrative consistently refers to Resolution 1244 as the main argument against Kosovo’s statehood, but its interpretation does not align with the political and legal developments on the ground.

Resolution 1244, adopted on June 10, 1999, established a civilian and military presence in Kosovo, stipulating that a final settlement should take into account the will of Kosovo’s majority population. It placed Kosovo in a transitional process toward self-governance and explicitly ruled out its return under Serbia’s authority.

With the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, its recognition by the majority of democratic countries, and the opinion of the International Court of Justice in 2010, which deemed the declaration of independence lawful, the relevance of Resolution 1244 has diminished. Contrary to Russia’s narrative, this resolution does not stipulate that Kosovo must remain part of Serbia but was intended to create conditions for a sustainable solution, which has now materialized through Kosovo’s independence.

Russia’s strategy regarding Kosovo is not solely about Serbia but is tied to its broader strategic interests on the international stage.

Russia exploits the Kosovo issue to challenge U.S. and EU influence in the Balkans, spreading the narrative that the West “violates international law” and “applies double standards.”

By promoting destabilizing narratives, Russia aims to fuel interethnic tensions and hinder the full integration of the Balkans into the EU and NATO.

*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”