Author: Nikola Mikovic
Nikola Mikovic
Nikola Mikovic is a freelance journalist, researcher and analyst based in Serbia. His work focuses mostly on the foreign policies of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. His area of focus is the ongoing conflict in the Donbass, as well as relations between Russia and former Soviet republics. Nikola also covers Russia's involvement in Syria and Libya. He writes for several publications such as Diplomatic Courier, Asia Times, CGTN, Tsarizm, Global Comment, among others.
“Never change a losing team” seems to be the Kremlin’s official policy. Despite several catastrophic geopolitical defeats, including the military debacle in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin does not seem willing to make any significant changes. Rumors are flying that the Russian leader has sacked eight top generals, and put under house arrest some of his advisers. Even if such speculations are true, there are no indications that Moscow has really started changing its geopolitical course, as well as military approach vis-à-vis Ukraine. Prior to the so-called special military operation in the Eastern European country, the Kremlin reportedly “forgot” to…
After Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko said that Russia’s war in Ukraine is dragging on, some Western analysts started speculating that the Belarusian leader is attempting to distance himself from the Kremlin. In reality, at least for now, Minsk remains firmly in the Russian geopolitical orbit, and continues supporting Moscow’s so-called special military operation in the neighboring country. According to reports, since February 24, at least 631 missiles were launched from Belarus at the positions in Ukraine. Even Lukashenko confirmed that such actions took place, although he described them as “forced steps”. However, the level of missile attacks from Belarus significantly…
When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. As a result of a proxy war between Russia and the West on Ukrainian territory, countries that are heavily dependent on wheat imports could face food shortages, and potentially even famine. According to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, about 47 million people in 81 countries will starve due to growing food prices this year. “The lack of Ukrainian wheat, corn, vegetable oil and other products will not only lead to the physical shortage of food in many African and Asian countries but may also cause political instability and, perhaps, a new migration…
While Russia prepares for the “decisive” battle for the Donbass, the West continues to supply Ukraine with weapons. Sooner or later the war will enter a new stage, with no indications that it could be over any time soon. The United States and its allies have already supplied the Eastern European country with tons of weapons. Washington has recently announced that it will send to Ukraine helicopters that can be equipped to launch ground attacks. The US is also expected to provide Kyiv with Humvees, howitzer artillery, as well as coastal defense drones. Previously, neighboring Slovakia has delivered the S-300…
Serbia is not the only European country that did not impose sanctions on Russia, but it is a nation that is reportedly facing enormous pressure to distance itself from Moscow. In the near future, the Balkan nation could be forced to make some very “unpopular decisions”. Ever since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Belgrade has been trying to balance its relations between the Kremlin and the West. Serbia voted in favor of a recent United Nations resolution calling on Russia to halt its war on Ukraine, and has supported the Eastern European country’s territorial integrity on…
The Russian Army is slowly advancing and capturing new territories in Ukraine, although its troops are suffering heavy losses. Unless tragic events in the Eastern European country are part of a wider geopolitical deal between the United States and the Russian Federation, in the long-term the Kremlin’s defeat in Ukraine seems to be inevitable. Ukraine receiving fighter jets from the European Union could be a turning point in the conflict that erupted on February 24. Ever since Russia launched an invasion of the former Soviet republic, its Armed Forces had a significant air superiority over the Ukrainian Army. But if…
Western powers continue to supply Ukraine with weapons, while the Kremlin keeps demonstrating its impotence by calling on NATO countries to stop pumping the Eastern European nation up with artillery ammunition, drones, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. Moscow even hesitates from arming its proxies in the Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine, fearing that such a move could result in severe anti-Russian sanctions. At the same time, Russia continues to mass troops near the Ukrainian border, although the country’s officials claim that Moscow has no intention to invade its neighbor. The United States, however, accuses Russia of planning to fabricate a pretext…