The internal conflict, which led to the events of 1999 in Yugoslavia, was heated both from the inside and from the outside.
This is what Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with TASS CEO Andrei Kondrashov in the preparation of the documentary “Belgrade”, which was released on the Russia-1 television channel March 24.
“The first step was, of course, the problem of the internal conflict. I will not give assessments now – so who is to blame for, who pursued any goals, well, of course, it was heated both from the inside and from the outside,” the words lead President Russian State Media.
The head of state called the bombardment of Yugoslavia a huge tragedy 25 years ago. The head of state noted that the actions of the West were unacceptable, in fact, they started the war in Europe.
“The tragedy is huge. What the West did is generally unacceptable. Without any resolution of the UN Security Council, military operations directly started, the war, in fact, in the center of Europe,” said Vladimir Putin.
The large -scale military operation of the North Atlantic bloc began on March 24, 1999 amid the refusal of the Union Republic of Yugoslavia led by Slobodan Milosevich to put an end to the oppression and massacres of Albanian and other communities in Kosovo. The operation continued until June 10, 1999.
During the air operation in today’s territories of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, control systems, military barracks and units, air defense systems, power and communication facilities, as well as energy facilities.
were seriously damaged.
The operation, which led to the complete withdrawal of the Serbian troops from Kosovo and the deployment of multinational peacekeeping forces in this region, is considered one of the turning points in the process of gaining independence.
According to the results of a three -month operation, Serbian troops agreed to leave the territory of Kosovo.
In the Kosovo war (1998-1999), more than 10 thousand Kosovars were killed, including more than 8 thousand Albanians.