The statement by President Vjosa Osmani that she has credible information indicating that U.S. President Donald Trump recently prevented Serbia from escalating the situation in Kosovo is being viewed from different perspectives within the country.
Despite the fact that the head of state reaffirmed Trump’s stance—one he has emphasized several times in recent weeks—the involvement of Richard Grenell, Trump’s special envoy for Special Missions, who accused Osmani of “manipulating Trump’s words,” has prompted foreign affairs experts to urge the president to be more cautious with her public remarks, especially when it comes to matters of national security.
President Donald Trump has mentioned Kosovo and Serbia on several occasions in recent weeks, stating that he prevented a conflict between them, though without providing specifics regarding the timeframe.
Speaking at a discussion last week at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, President Osmani said that President Trump was very clear in his statements and that she also has information indicating that he made an extraordinary contribution in stopping Serbia’s efforts against Kosovo.
Security affairs expert Avni Islami says he trusts Trump’s statements about preventing Serbia from escalating the situation in Kosovo. He believes President Osmani based her statements on first-hand information from Trump.
According to Islami, doubting such claims—whether by Grenell, Serbian officials, or Kosovar politicians—is not in the country’s interest. He stressed that Serbia has a strategic plan to attack Kosovo and is simply waiting for the right moment, a fact he claims was acknowledged by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić himself.
“I’m inclined to trust the statements of the President of the United States, Donald Trump. He hasn’t said it just once, but several times recently—that he stopped a possible attack, albeit very late. After President Vjosa Osmani visited the U.S., she reaffirmed what President Trump had said. I trust them because Trump has first-hand information. As for Grenell’s statement and those of Serbian and Kosovar politicians, I don’t believe them. I believe the official statements of the U.S. and President Osmani. She merely reaffirmed what President Trump had said. We must not forget one thing: three months ago, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said they were waiting for the opportune moment to intervene in Kosovo. Serbia has a strategic plan on the table to attack Kosovo and is just waiting for the right moment,” he said.
Following Osmani’s statements in the U.S., Richard Grenell, Trump’s special envoy for Special Missions, reacted, accusing Osmani of manipulating the president’s words.
Regarding Grenell’s criticism, Osmani’s office has announced a press conference once she returns from the U.S.
KosovaPress contacted the Office of the Presidency on Monday, but they were not available for comment.
According to political analyst Magbule Shkodra, Grenell’s statements directed at Osmani are troubling, as they target the highest office in the country. She emphasized the need for President Osmani to be more cautious with her statements, particularly when dealing with issues of national security.
“President Osmani should have been very cautious with her remarks, especially with a statement of this nature, as it involved the country’s security. Her statement from the U.S., affirming what President Donald Trump said as true regarding a potential attack during this time, concerned us all. What was even more concerning was when senior U.S. official Mr. Grenell made a post on X, where he addressed a country’s president—President Osmani—in a brutal manner, saying: ‘Shame on you for manipulating President Trump’s words.’ That too is worrying for us. We must understand one thing: politicians must weigh their words and not make statements without confirmation,” she said.
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, when previously asked about President Trump’s claims that he stopped Serbia from escalating the situation in Kosovo, said he had no such information.
Meanwhile, Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla declined to comment on Osmani’s remarks, in which she reaffirmed Trump’s statements.
Osmani’s claims were also denied by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on July 12, who said, “We have not mobilized any soldiers, nor deployed any machinery, nor are we thinking about it. We want to work and build.”
