Ukraine’s Kherson victory is a turning point in the war

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics.

What's the importance of Putin losing the city of Kherson?

Major, I would say. I mean he lost, first, the battle for Kyiv immediately after launching his invasion. Then he lost the battle for Kharkiv, the second largest Ukrainian city. And now he lost the absolutely key city of Kherson, where he had said even that it's an exit to Russia. He is totally absent from the issue in the Russian media, blaming it all on the military, but it's a turning point in the war. Very big. More to come.

Is the trouble that we now see between Kosovo and Serbia the beginning of something more?

Not necessarily. It is a continuation of difficulties that have been there. Implementing an agreement is a couple of years back on both the license plates and an association of Serbian municipalities of Kosovo. And it's also coincided with efforts by the EU and US to have a more lasting solution to the problem. I don't expect an immediate breakthrough. I don't expect any immediate break down. That's the way the Balkans normally is.