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North Atlantic Treaty Organization

US and Russia Fail to Settle Differences Over NATO's Kosovo Campaign

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov for three hours to discuss NATO's bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, but were unable to reach a consensus. The meeting confirmed Russia's strong opposition to the NATO offensive, with Ivanov stating that the sooner airstrikes cease, the easier it will be to find a solution. The two sides agreed on several key points, including an end to repression and a pullout of Serb troops and police from Kosovo, but disagreed on the deployment of a NATO-led peacekeeping force.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US and Russia failed to reach a consensus on NATO's bombing campaign in Yugoslavia after a three-hour meeting between Madeleine Albright and Igor Ivanov.
  • Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov stated that the sooner NATO ceases airstrikes, the easier it will be to find a solution, describing the dispute as "a cul-de-sac".
  • The two sides agreed, at least in principle, that there must be an end to repression, a pullout of Serb troops and police from Kosovo, a return of displaced refugees to their homes, and access for humanitarian organizations.
  • Russia refused to agree to the deployment of a NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, insisting that any international presence requires the agreement of the government of Yugoslavia.
  • The US and Russia did not agree on the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping, with Ivanov emphasizing that the UN should have a role in peacekeeping.
  • The meeting follows a North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, in which 19 NATO allies considered having Russian and other European troops join in enforcing a settlement in Kosovo if Yugoslavia accepts peace terms.
  • Russia has suspended its ties with NATO to protest the bombing of the Serbs and sent a spy ship toward the Adriatic Sea.

Statistics:

  • Three hours: the length of time Madeleine Albright and Igor Ivanov met to discuss NATO's Kosovo campaign.
  • 19: the number of NATO allies who considered having Russian and other European troops join in enforcing a settlement in Kosovo.
  • 1: the number of appeals for weapons made to Madeleine Albright, which she turned down.
  • 1: the number of spy ships sent by Russia toward the Adriatic Sea in response to NATO's bombing campaign.

Sources:

  • Barry Schweid, The United States and Russia Failed Today to Settle Their Differences Over NATO's Bombing Campaign in Yugoslavia (Associated Press)
  • Madeleine Albright's statement on her flight from Washington (Associated Press)
  • James Rubin's statement on behalf of the US State Department (Associated Press)

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