EU: Serbia to refrain from strengthening ties with Russia

2024-09-05 17:54:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The European Union called on Serbia to refrain from deepening ties with Russia, stressing that such a thing contradicts its declared aspirations for integration into the bloc.

A day ago, the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Balkan country is an ally of Russia, which will never impose sanctions against Moscow or join NATO.

The comments by Aleksandar Vulin, the former head of the Serbian secret service who is under US sanctions, made during a meeting with the Russian president in Vladivostok, reflect the close relationship between Belgrade and Moscow.

The spokesperson of the European Union, Peter Stano, said on Thursday that the meeting of the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia with the Russian leader is contrary to Serbia's aspirations for EU integration.

"We do not know on whose behalf Vulini is speaking, because the president of Serbia, (Aleksandar) Vu?i?, has reiterated Serbia's strategic goal for EU membership. This means that after Russia's aggression against Ukraine, relations with Russia cannot be continued or strengthened as if nothing had happened. So, we expect Serbia to refrain from strengthening these relations and we expect all members of the Serbian government to follow the goal of EU integration", said spokesman Stano.

On Wednesday, the Serbian official assured President Putin that Serbia's close ties with Russia will continue in the future.

"A Serbia led by Aleksandar Vu?i? is a Serbia that will never become a member of NATO, that will never impose sanctions against the Russian Federation and that will never allow its territory to be used for any action anti-Russian," he said.

President Putin said during the meeting that he has invited the president of Serbia to participate in the meeting of the member countries of the BRICS organization, which is expected to take place from October 22 to 24.

The Serbian president, thanking Putin, said on Thursday that "at that time there will be many important visits to Serbia", implying that he will not travel to Kazan, Russia, where the meeting is expected to be held.

Vulin's meeting with President Putin in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok came shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Serbia, during which Belgrade signed a deal to buy French Rafale military jets, a move seen as a possible departure from Moscow.

But independent observers in Serbia say that the meeting is part of Vu?i?'s efforts to maintain the policy of balance between East and West./ Voa