Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in an interview with Informer that Serbia’s refusal to impose anti-Russian sanctions is the main reason why it is distancing itself from EU membership and slowing down its European integration.
“Just so you know, this [refusal to impose sanctions — ed.] is the only reason why Serbia is not very close to EU membership. Otherwise, it would already be at the very end of this path. Because we adhered to a different policy, because we adhered to a policy of military neutrality, because we were honest with everyone: with the Russian side, with international law, with the UN Charter, without violating the natural interests of the Russian state,” said Aleksandar Vučić.
According to the Serbian president, former EU Council President Charles Michel asked him three times to suspend air traffic with Russia.
“We held out and did not cancel air traffic. We also maintained negotiations with Russian Railways. We are discussing with them and with Chinese railway companies how to continue [the modernised – ed.] railway from Valjevo to Vrbnica, i.e. the border with Montenegro. We are also talking to other large [Russian – ed.] companies,” Vučić said.
Earlier, Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia has been under serious pressure since the start of the armed conflict in Ukraine, but despite this, it will continue to maintain its neutrality.
