Croatia's president Zoran Milanovic called "irresponsible" the calls from some Baltic countries for a possible attack on the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The statement is a rarity - a voice of caution coming from the Balkans toward the ever louder hawks within NATO.

Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania, heavily militarized and strategically extremely sensitive. The calls to "neutralize" this territory, heard from some Baltic politicians, Milanovic assessed as a dangerous stoking that could lead to a direct conflict with Russia.

Milanovic has long been known for his unconventional positions on the war in Ukraine and on NATO's role. He is often critical of Western policy, which earns him both praise and sharp criticism - but in this case, his message is clear: rhetoric about attacking Russian territory is playing with fire.

There's something familiar in this picture for us in the Balkans. A region that for decades was Europe's powder keg is now sending a warning to those who talk lightly about war. When someone who has seen war up close says "be careful," it carries a different weight than armchair geopolitics.

The question that remains is whether such voices of caution will be heard, or whether they'll be crushed by the dominant warlike rhetoric. History teaches us that calls for moderation are often ignored - until it's too late.