Putin Meets Bosnian Serb Leaders in Moscow, Ties and Neutrality in Focus

Russian President Vladimir Putin received Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić at the Kremlin on Tuesday, in a meeting that underscored the continuing partnership between Moscow and the Bosnian Serb entity.

During the talks, Putin said the two sides would keep working to expand their relationship across several areas. He listed political dialogue, cooperation at the United Nations, joint economic projects and longstanding cultural and humanitarian contacts as key strands of the relationship.

The Russian president also said Moscow and Republika Srpska were pursuing what he described as a more just world order, and that Russia consistently backs the entity in international forums, including the UN Security Council.

Dodik, for his part, restated Republika Srpska's refusal to align with sanctions imposed on Russia. He acknowledged that the position carries symbolic weight, noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina has not joined the measures.

He further reiterated his opposition to NATO membership, describing military neutrality as a fundamental stance and a clear rejection of integration with the alliance.

The meeting brought together the Bosnian Serb political leadership and the Russian head of state at a time when ties between Moscow and the entity remain a subject of international attention.