The head of Serbian diplomacy claims that there will be no sanctions from the EU after Vucic’s visit to Moscow
Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric claimed on Saturday that President Aleksandar Vucic’s visit to Moscow in recent days « will not bring out the process of integration into the European Union (EU), nor sanctions from official Brussels ».
He told Serbia’s State Radio and Television (RTS) that during the week Belgrade will be visited by European Council President Antonio Costa, and the Head of EU Diplomacy, Kaja Kalas. He added that he even expects strengthening of relations with Brussels, which, according to him, « will not be the detriment of Serbia’s balanced foreign policy ».
« There will be no interruption of European integration nor sanctions – this will become clear soon, and what we can expect is the continuation of development, » Djuric said.
Vucic arrived in Moscow on Thursday, where a day later he participated in the Day of Victory in World War II, and met with Russian President Putin for the first time since the Russian occupation of Ukraine in February 2022.
Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership, but faces criticism from Brussels for the elaboration of its foreign policy with that of the EU, which has imposed strict sanctions on Russia after the war in Ukraine.
Martha Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, said during her visit to Belgrade last week that, due to Vucic’s visit to Moscow, she will have « much harder to help Serbia stay strongly oriented to the European road ».
« Nine May 1945 and 9 May 2025 are two dates of different value. Going to Moscow and celebrating with Putin, or his army killing people in Ukraine, is in complete contradiction with European values, » Kosov said the day before.
After meeting with Putin, during which he expressed the increase in trade exchange between Serbia and Russia, Vucic said he was ready to respond to criticism that may come from the European Union.
