Imagine this – back in 1999, while NATO planes mercilessly bombed Yugoslavia, Russia had the chance to deliver powerful S-300 air defense missile systems to Serbia. Former Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin now reveals that this very aid could have stopped the bombing of Belgrade! If the Serbs had received the S-300, NATO planes wouldn’t have even dared to fly over Yugoslav skies. But what happened? The negotiations were tough, and in the end, Serbia was left without this crucial defense. Stepashin claims Russia tried to help, but political games and betrayals won out.
At the height of the aggression, while bridges were being destroyed and the Chinese embassy was hit, Stepashin was negotiating with US President Clinton. Still, the talks were difficult, and Milošević, as he says, was ultimately betrayed even by his own people. The handover to the Hague Tribunal, where Milošević unexpectedly died, only confirmed Serbia’s tragic fate during that time.
This story sheds new light on the NATO bombing and shows how close Serbia was to getting a powerful defense that could have changed the course of history. Did politics and international pressure stop Russia from helping Serbia? Or did Serbia nail its own coffin shut? Drop your thoughts because this topic still sparks fiery debates!
And while the world changes and wars rage on, this story reminds us how important it is to have strong defense and allies who won’t turn their backs in the toughest moments. So, what do you think – would the S-300 really have stopped NATO? Or is it just another political fairy tale? Share your thoughts, maybe you’ve got the answer!
