Further proof of this attitude came when Russian forces joined the international contingent in Kosovo - for Russia, the Balkans has never been geopolitically farther, and the damage to its international credibility for supporting the political regime in the FRY would be greater than any possible benefit. However, it has to be said that throughout the intervention in the FRY Russia tried to sustain some contact with Serbia. These attempts met with the approval of a part of the public, which, along with the nationally oriented intellectual and political elite, was pushing Russia into a conflict with the West, with the USA in particular. That's how it came about that during the Kosovo crisis the relations between Russia and the USA were the worst since the end of the Cold War period. Still, following its general strategic orientation, Russia has been behaving pragmatically, aware of the actual state of affairs in the international community.
Several things indicate such attitude.
Still, it cannot deal with these consequences without the help of the international community. Second, throughout the crisis in Kosovo, Russia tried to keep its relations with the West above the level at which the position it had gained would be endangered. Third, by signing the documents of the OSCE conference in Istanbul in November 1999, Russia confirmed its acceptance of the changes in international relations after the conflict in Kosovo. Namely, international intervention in regional conflicts has become a thing to count on in future, and Russia will play a role in it. Fifth, the new Russian president has been appointed in a way unprecedented in the history of this country, which indicates an orientation towards further political democratization accompanied by the strengthening of one institution of the administration - that of the president.