Washington, 19 February 2025 (MIA) - Macedonia seems to me willing to accommodate Bulgarian demands for mention of Bulgarians in the constitution, but it wants that requirement to be the last one Bulgaria levies, says Daniel Serwer, professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Serwer was quizzed by MIA if a freeze on Bulgaria’s blockade of North Macedonia’s EU integration can be expected, or has the process already been effectively stalled since the formation of the VMRO-DPMNE-led government in Skopje last year.

"I really don't know. Macedonia seems to me willing to accommodate Bulgarian demands for mention of Bulgarians in the constitution, but it wants that requirement to be the last one Bulgaria levies. I don't know if the Bulgarians are willing to go along with that," says Serwer.

Regarding Ukraine, he says that any settlement that compromises Kyiv's sovereignty and territorial integrity will encourage secessionist and irredentist efforts by Serbia in the Balkans, adding that Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Kosovo will be at risk. 

"Russia could certainly try to use the talks to delay, but in this case I suspect the opposite is likely. The Americans are offering a deal that would allow Russia to stay in at least the parts of Ukraine it already occupies. Locking that in and getting time to rearm and restaff its military will be attractive to Moscow," says Serwer.

Asked if the Riyadh talks between the U.S. and Russia signal the need for Europe to develop integrated military forces independent of NATO, Serwer says Europe needs politicians "willing to stand up to the Americans and defend Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity" more than such integrated military forces.

On the deployment of U.S. and European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, he says the Americans have already said they will not deploy.

"Whether the Europeans should deploy depends on the agreement. Only if it protects Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity would I support anyone deploying troops. Otherwise, they will be at risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when Moscow renews the war," notes Serwer.

MIA file photo