Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his government Monday to prepare possible deliveries of humanitarian aid to Serbs living in the disputed territory of Kosovo, news agencies reported. "If humanitarian aid is needed, then let's do it, but without any political aspect," Putin was quoted as saying by national news agencies at a government meeting.
The Serbian government made a request for medicine, medical equipment, and food in the last few days, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, ITAR-TASS reported. "Since the unilateral declaration of independent Kosovo," said Lavrov, "the humanitarian situation has become more strained in the last two weeks in the Serbian enclaves in Kosovo."