Janice R. Andrews
Serbia’s Prime Minister, Milos Vucevic, has stepped down following mass protests, marking another blow to Vladimir Putin’s influence in Europe. The resignation comes after public outrage over a November 2024 tragedy, where a collapsed canopy claimed 15 lives, sparking widespread demonstrations.
Although Serbia has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has resisted imposing sanctions on Moscow, aligning with Hungary and Slovakia. However, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is under growing pressure after his recent meeting with Putin in Russia.
At the same time, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called for dismantling the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, urging Europe to sever dependence on Russian gas. In another blow to Russia’s energy influence, Ukraine has refused to extend a gas transit deal, cutting supplies to Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.
With Putin’s backing in Europe diminishing, political tensions are rising in pro-Russian states, and efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy are accelerating.
