EU and USA, request Serbia/ Distance yourself from Russia

2024-07-02 22:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

EU and USA, request Serbia/ Distance yourself from Russia

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko (left) is received by Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic, July 1, 2024.

The European Union (EU) has again called on Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, while the United States has asked it not to offer it a platform to promote aggressive war, as Belgrade hosted it on Tuesday. in a visit to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Aleksandr Grushko.

Grushko was received on July 2 by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, while during his stay in the Serbian capital, he held meetings with other high officials of Serbia.

"The European Union has been very clear with our partners: relations with Russia cannot be normal with Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine," an EU spokesperson told Radio Free Europe (REL).

He said that the EU Council recognizes the humanitarian aid and other support that Serbia has given to Ukraine, but that it expects it - as a candidate country for EU membership - to align itself with the foreign policy of the European bloc.

Meanwhile, the US State Department (DASH) said in a response to REL that the United States "does not believe that any country should give Russia a platform to promote its war of aggression against Ukraine."

"The countries of the Western Balkans, as well as all of Europe, have a great interest in the outcome of the Russian war against Ukraine, which threatens the foundations of international order and security. Therefore, it is extremely important that we continue to stand united in the face of aggression of Russia", said DASH.

The US also praised the support that Serbia has provided to Ukraine so far.

During the meeting in Belgrade, Vucic thanked Grushko for his support regarding the Resolution on Srebrenica, which was voted in the United Nations General Assembly in May.

Vucic posted on Instagram a photo from the meeting with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, where he wrote that he thanks Russia especially for supporting Serbia's territorial integrity.

"We talked about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and we evaluated them as very good", said the Serbian president.

A day earlier, Grushko also met the Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, with whom he talked about current security issues and expressed the need for continuous coordination of competent security institutions, reported the Serbian MIA.

Grushko was also received by Serbia's deputy prime minister and former head of the Serbian intelligence agency, Aleksandar Vulin, who is on the United States sanctions list because of his ties to Moscow.

In addition to political cooperation, Serbia and Russia are also deepening military and economic cooperation.

Serbia has the support of Russia in opposing the recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Despite calls from the European Union, Serbia has not undertaken sanctions against Russia, due to the invasion of Ukraine./ REL