Kosovo: After violent clashes between Kosovan police and protesters opposed to ethnic Albanian mayors, Russia on Saturday blamed Kosovo, the United States, and the European Union for the escalation of tensions in the Balkans and said it was closely monitoring the situation.

The use of force to impose mayors in areas with a majority of ethnic Serbs was condemned by the United States and its allies on Friday, undermining efforts to mend strained ties with Serbia. On Saturday, NATO urged Kosovo to reduce tensions.

Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, ordered units to move closer to the border and put the army on full combat alert as a result of the clashes on Friday.

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Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said in a statement that "we vehemently condemn Pristina's provocative steps, which have brought the situation dangerously close to the hot phase and directly threaten the security of the entire Balkans region."

"The United States and the European Union bear full responsibility for this," she said, adding that "Western mediators'" criticism of Kosovo had come too late.

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Russia, a longtime ally of Serbia, does not recognise Kosovo's independence, and Moscow has prevented the nation from applying to join the UN. Kosovo is still regarded as being a part of Serbia.

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