Croatian Deputy Defense Minister Ante Kotromanović expressed that if Russia had been able to defeat Ukraine within a month, it would have opened the way for a Serbian attack on Kosovo. "I believe Vučić would have attacked Kosovo with his forces and some Russians, if Russia had managed to defeat Ukraine within a month. Who would have stopped him then?" declared Kotromanović. The war in Ukraine officially began when Russian forces launched their attacks and advance on February 24, 2022, against the neighboring country. Ukraine subsequently sought and received logistical, financial, and other support from EU countries and the United States. "Croatia is a member of NATO and has obligations. It does not pose any threat in any way, nor would we join forces and attack Serbia. That is a notorious absurdity," he said.