Reports from European security officials suggest that the United States may consider withdrawing its troops from Europe, including its presence in Kosovo, if US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Germany’s Bild reported on February 19 that such a deal could lead to significant shifts in the security landscape of the region.

Currently, the Nato-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) maintains a presence in Kosovo to ensure freedom of movement and stability. KFOR has been operating in the region since 1999 following Nato's intervention in Serbia that ended the Kosovo conflict.

The United States is the second-largest contributor to KFOR, with over 600 troops stationed in the country, following Italy’s 1,258 troops.

According to the Bild report, Italy is already preparing for a potential US withdrawal from Kosovo. This could leave European allies alone in the Balkans, facing increased pressure from Serbia and its leadership under President Aleksandar Vucic, who has friendly relations with Russia despite EU pressure to cut ties and impose sanctions.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric travelled to Moscow earlier this week, where he held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The visit coincided with the 17th anniversary of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. Duric referenced (but did not elaborate on) “tectonic changes in the international community” that he suggested could create new opportunities to revisit the Kosovo issue.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but tensions persist, as Belgrade continues to reject its statehood. Additionally, Kosovo has yet to establish the Association of Serbian Municipalities, a key demand of the Kosovo Serbs.

An Eastern European security official cited by Bild stated, "According to our information, [the potential deal] involves Putin's 2021 demands, including the withdrawal of US troops from all Nato countries that joined the alliance after 1990."

While Trump has denied plans for a complete withdrawal from Europe, according to Bild, Western security officials remain wary that ongoing negotiations in Riyadh could lead to major reductions in the US military footprint across the continent. Analysts fear that such a scenario could embolden Russia and increase the risk of military action in the Baltic states and Poland.

According to the article, the only US bases not being considered for potential closure are those in Ramstein, Germany, and air force bases in the United Kingdom. If Trump and Putin reach an agreement, the rest of Europe may face significant changes.

Concerns over a broader withdrawal have also been echoed by former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. He stated on social media: "Lavrov insisted that Nato revert to its 1997 borders, withdrawing from all countries except East Germany for the sake of European stability. So why wouldn’t Putin demand the same in Riyadh?" according to the article.

In response to the report by Bild, the United States mission to Nato told Kosovo's Gazeta Express on February 20 that it is not aware of any discussions regarding the reduction or withdrawal of American troops.

A senior official from the US mission said that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed last week that no decisions had been made regarding the level of US troops. "We are not aware of any discussions, and as Secretary Hegseth stated last week, no decisions have been made concerning troop levels," the official said.