Macedonia

How is Mickoski emboldened to defy the West to which he supposedly wants to belong? Western diplomats say there are those who wish North Macedonia never joins the EU and that it is alienated by NATO, not so subtly designating Russia and Serbia.

It is no secret that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an increasingly autocratic pro-Russian, is assisting VMRO-DPMNE financially. And, of course, he has provided asylum to the disgraced Gruevski, who faces corruption charges at home. Bulgarian analysts believe that Russia, Hungary and Serbia would like nothing better than to welcome North Macedonia as the fourth member of their axis.