Serbia-Kosovo, EU, US and Russia

The agreement between Serbia and Kosovo on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalize ties, reached in the North Macedonia town of Ohrid last Saturday, brought relief to the wider Southeast Europe region, as well as in Brussels and Washington.

However, an overoptimistic celebratory mood would be inappropriate. By adopting the Franco-German proposal, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti have basically accepted a framework for dialogue.

It will take time and will from both sides, and of course help (in the form of carrot-and-stick policy) from the Europeans and the Americans for real change to take place. Disputes with a history of hatred and violent confrontation, like this one in Kosovo, can rarely be settled with an agreement - even less so when this has been imposed from above.

Moscow could turn...