After a long period of stagnation, the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is once again drawing the attention of the United Nations and the United States, raising hopes for stronger international involvement.
However, appeals for peace, stability and confidence-building risk remaining mere diplomatic rhetoric unless they are followed by concrete action and pressure on Belgrade.
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Analysts say Washington needs to take a more active role in unblocking the process, while elections in Serbia and geopolitical circumstances could make the resumption of negotiations even more difficult.
Will renewed American interest turn into a tangible initiative that leads to the normalization of relations and mutual recognition?
The professor says the Trump administration’s engagement could shape the future of the dialogue, but calls for agreements to be implemented, accountability for Banjska and guarantees for Kosovo’s sovereignty
Positions expressed by the United States at the UN Security Council regarding peace and stability in the Western Balkans have brought the need for more decisive international involvement in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue back to the center of the discussion.
Professor Dr. Fejzulla Berisha, analyzing developments and the position of President Donald Trump’s administration, stresses that normalizing relations between the two countries cannot be achieved through diplomatic statements alone; it requires the genuine implementation of agreements and clear accountability on both sides.
Berisha notes that calls for restraint and confidence-building are valuable, but shared responsibility for preserving peace does not automatically mean equal blame or equal failure to meet obligations.
“Shared responsibility for peace should not be interpreted as an immediate equalization of blame or unmet obligations. Each side should be judged on the basis of its own actions and the commitments it has undertaken to implement,” Berisha told Bota sot.
He emphasizes that, for Kosovo, dialogue with Serbia goes beyond ordinary diplomacy because it is directly linked to the country’s state sovereignty, national security, the functioning of democratic institutions and its Euro-Atlantic path.
Berisha says Kosovo should continue strengthening the rule of law, protecting the rights of all communities and coordinating with its international allies. Serbia, meanwhile, must demonstrate its commitment to normalization through concrete actions, showing that its engagement is not limited to political statements.
As for international actors, the professor believes diplomatic pressure on Serbia should be based on clear standards, verifiable evidence and consequences for failing to implement agreements.
“International pressure should aim to change the conduct that obstructs peace, not to weaken one side politically. Only then can dialogue become a genuine mechanism for normalization rather than a long-running negotiation process,” he says.
Berisha adds that Serbia’s progress toward EU membership should be conditional on measurable fulfillment of its obligations toward Kosovo. In this context, he considers it essential to fully clarify the armed attack in Banjska on September 24, 2023, and bring those responsible to justice on the basis of evidence and legal procedures.
He believes the international community should demand full cooperation to clarify the circumstances of the attack, since any act that threatens security and constitutional order must be treated with the utmost seriousness.
Nevertheless, the professor stresses that Kosovo’s institutions must also act in accordance with democratic standards, proportionality and the rights of communities. He believes respecting these principles does not lessen Serbia’s responsibility, but strengthens Kosovo’s legal and diplomatic position.
Another issue that, according to Berisha, requires particular care is the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. He notes that any solution must respect the dialogue agreements as well as Kosovo’s Constitution and the functionality of the state.
Speaking about the role of the U.S. administration, Berisha says the United States is particularly important to Kosovo’s security and diplomatic dynamics in the Western Balkans. In his view, deeper U.S. engagement could speed up negotiations, create clearer implementation mechanisms and increase diplomatic pressure on the parties.
However, he warns that an agreement reached in haste does not necessarily bring lasting stability.
“For Kosovo, the goal should not simply be a formal agreement, but the building of a peace that protects sovereignty, constitutional order and the security of its citizens,” Berisha emphasizes.
He believes any lasting agreement should include clear obligations, monitoring mechanisms and guarantees to prevent crises between Kosovo and Serbia from recurring.
In this regard, the professor considers coordination between the United States, the European Union and other Euro-Atlantic partners essential. He says Washington and Brussels can build a more sustainable framework for implementing agreements and preventing tensions if they act decisively and apply clear criteria to both sides.
Berisha also stresses that Kosovo should preserve its strategic partnership with the United States through professional diplomacy, continuous communication and responsible institutional decisions.
He notes that no statement from Washington can, by itself, guarantee Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo, Kosovo’s membership in international organizations or the resolution of all disputes. These objectives, he says, require sustained diplomatic work, international support and strong institutions at home.
In conclusion, the professor says Kosovo’s long-term stability should be based on strengthening the rule of law, consolidating the Euro-Atlantic partnership and pursuing active diplomacy that protects the country’s national interests without closing the door to dialogue.
He stresses that the success of the normalization process should not be measured by the number of meetings or the forcefulness of statements, but by the implementation of agreements, a reduction in tensions and the establishment of guarantees for lasting peace.
“For the Republic of Kosovo, peace cannot be a price paid by compromising statehood, nor can stability rest on endless political ambiguity. It must be the result of justice, respect for agreements and recognition of state realities,” Berisha concludes.
He adds that the future of the Western Balkans depends not only on the ability to avoid conflict, but also on the willingness to build lasting relations based on security, responsibility and respect for international law.
The analyst says renewed UN and U.S. attention to the dialogue is a significant signal
Analyst and activist Nexhat Bexheti considers it significant that the United States and the United Nations are once again paying attention to the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue, after a period during which, in his view, the process had almost been forgotten.
However, he says statements made at the Security Council are not binding on the parties and do not create enough pressure to bring Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić back to the negotiating table.
Bexheti says this development should be seen as a positive signal for Kosovo, even though it will not produce immediate results. He believes the renewed international attention may also be linked to the end of the political deadlock in Kosovo and the formation of institutions, which, he says, has prompted international partners to refocus on developments in the country.
“It is very significant that the attention of the UN and the United States has returned to the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue. Kosovo should take encouragement from this development, because for a time the process was almost forgotten,” Bexheti told Bota sot.
He also refers to remarks by U.S. representative Tammy Bruce at the Security Council, in which she urged Kosovo and Serbia to show restraint, take concrete steps to build confidence and engage constructively in the dialogue facilitated by the European Union.
Bexheti believes the American message of peace, stability and prosperity is welcome, but should not be confused with concrete accountability or pressure that would compel the parties to resume negotiations. He recalls that similar statements have been made before without bringing the expected progress in normalizing relations.
“This report is not binding on either country and contains no mechanisms that would push Kosovo and Serbia to begin dialogue to stabilize relations. It is not direct pressure on Vučić and Kurti to sit down at the negotiating table,” he stresses.
Bexheti says the resumption of dialogue also faces political and diplomatic obstacles. He cites the upcoming elections in Serbia as one factor that could make the process harder to restart, alongside continuing disagreements between Pristina and Belgrade over the implementation of past agreements.
In his view, the armed attack in Banjska on September 24, 2023, and mutual accusations between the parties have deepened mistrust and stalled the dialogue. In this context, he believes calls for restraint should be accompanied by concrete efforts to implement agreements and create conditions to ensure the process does not remain at the level of statements alone.
On the role of the United States, Bexheti says Washington should take a tougher approach toward Serbia and use more concrete diplomatic and economic tools to encourage Belgrade to engage in the process of normalization with Kosovo.
“It is absolutely necessary for the United States to exert pressure on Serbia because, when it comes to Kosovo, Belgrade is not easily swayed by international pressure. The United States should treat this issue seriously and also consider the possibility of economic sanctions, so Serbia understands the importance of starting dialogue on normalizing relations and achieving mutual recognition,” Bexheti says.
He expects the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to engage more seriously in restarting the dialogue in the coming period. As an example, Bexheti points to Trump’s previous efforts to bring Kosovo and Serbia closer, referring to the White House meeting with Kosovo’s then-prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
In his view, other international developments, particularly the war in Ukraine, have meant that the Kosovo–Serbia issue has not always been among the top priorities of U.S. foreign policy. Bexheti also expresses concern about changes in the U.S. approach to Russia and sanctions policy, linking these shifts to broader geopolitical dynamics.
In his analysis, Bexheti also raises the possibility of Russia becoming involved in a broader diplomatic process to resolve disputes between Kosovo and Serbia. He argues that Moscow has political influence in Serbia and believes coordination between the United States and Russia could affect Belgrade’s position, regardless of which government emerges from Serbia’s elections.
Bexheti is convinced that such engagement could pave the way toward a final settlement, including Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo. However, this remains his assessment and expectation regarding future diplomatic developments.
“I believe the Trump administration will make a serious effort to restart the dialogue. If genuine international coordination is achieved and Serbia is convinced that normalizing relations is essential, conditions could be created for a solution that would be important for Kosovo and the stability of the entire Western Balkans,” Bexheti told Bota sot.
