Vucic's visit to Russia/ EU: Refrain from legitimizing Putin's aggression against Ukraine!

The European Union expresses deep regret for the Serbian leadership's trip to Moscow and participation in marking Victory Day in World War II, an event that Russia, according to Brussels, uses for propaganda purposes.

This is the response of the European Commission after the visit of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, to Russia, where he will meet with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

"Serbia is expected to demonstrate a credible commitment to European values and convince us of its strategic orientation towards the European Union," a European Commission spokesperson said in a written response to Radio Free Europe.

The EC underlines that all actors must refrain from any action that could legitimize Putin's aggression against Ukraine.

"If someone wants to show support for peace, the right place for this on May 9 is Kiev, not Moscow," the response said.

The EU emphasizes that it has been "completely clear" with its partners, including candidate countries such as Serbia.

"Relations with Russia cannot continue as usual with Putin's regime, at a time when its aggression against Ukraine is unprovoked and unjustifiable," concludes the European Commission's reaction.

Vucic arrived in Moscow on the eve of the May 9 anniversary and is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the Russian president, the first since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

He stated to reporters in Moscow that Serbia will continue its European path and added that "if anyone has to pay the price of this visit, it will be me, not the state".

Vucic also said that he expects "very harsh reactions" from the EU because of this visit, but that his response will be "measured and serious". He warned that he will discuss with Putin, among other things, the gas supply agreement and the Serbian Oil Industry, which is Russian-owned and under US sanctions.

European institutions had previously reacted to warnings about Vucic's trip to Moscow. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, during a visit to Belgrade at the end of April, said that the decision to travel to Moscow is up to the president of Serbia, but warned that if he does it, "it will be much more difficult to help Serbia remain firmly oriented on the European path".

Serbia has been in the process of negotiations for EU membership since 2014, but has not opened any new chapters since December 2021, due to its refusal to harmonize foreign policy with that of the EU and impose sanctions on Russia. Despite Brussels' warnings, the authorities in Belgrade have continued to maintain close relations with Moscow./REL