Belgrade is facing intense pressure from the West for not sanctioning Moscow, the Serbian leader told RT
Vucic said on Sunday. His remarks followed a phone call Vucic had with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The phone call was tied to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi occupation by the Soviet Army in 1944. According to Vucic, who commented on the call to RT Balkan and in a post on his Instagram account, the conversation was “open, long and meaningful,” covering topics ranging from the bilateral relations between Russia and Serbia to the Ukraine crisis.
“We talked as people who have known each other for a long time, friends, it was a long personal conversation, about who are weak leaders and who are strong,” Vucic stated. He noted that while Serbia’s position “is not simple,” it will not change its stance on cooperation with Russia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Belgrade’s official position on the conflict is neutral, but the country has maintained close economic ties with Moscow and has consistently refused to join sanctions against it despite pressure from the US and EU.
“If I told you now what it looks like when 25 presidents and prime ministers turn to you and say – why didn’t you introduce sanctions, you are the only dissenter here – just imagine what kind of situation you are in at that moment,” Vucic explained, stressing that his country has “managed to preserve independence and sovereignty in making decisions.” Vucic also noted that while he and Putin “do not always think the same about everything,” the Russian leader “understands the gravity of Serbia’s position… better than anyone.” He said Putin as saying “what is good for Serbia is also good for Russia,” signaling his agreement with that notion.
Vucic has often called for a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict. He recently suggested that the situation would likely end in a “Korean-scenario” stalemate, in which open hostilities would end but the sides would be unlikely to agree on a peaceful resolution.
Among other things, the Serbian leader said he thanked Putin for ensuring that his country had sufficient quantities of gas, and said he looks forward to further bolstering Serbian-Russian relations.
Vucic also noted that he accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Moscow next year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He did not comment on Putin’s invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan scheduled for later this week, but said that he would reveal more details on Monday.
