Putin wrote to Vučić: Moscow appreciates Belgrade's foreign policy course

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Statehood Day with a message that Moscow highly values the balanced foreign policy course pursued by Belgrade.

"Serbia is a significant and reliable partner of Russia. We highly value the balanced foreign policy course that Belgrade pursues in the current complex international circumstances," Putin stated in the congratulatory message, which was handed to Vučić today by Russian Ambassador Aleksandar Bocan-Harčenko.

He also emphasized that Russia supports Serbia's efforts "aimed at protecting the country's territorial integrity and resolving the Kosovo issue."

The Russian president expressed confidence in the letter that further development of Russian-Serbian strategic partnership fully corresponds to the interests of "brotherly peoples."

Serbia is the only country in Europe, alongside Belarus and Turkey, that has not imposed sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, reports RSE. The latest European Parliament report stated that Serbia has aligned with relevant resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly and with the suspension of Russia from the Human Rights Council.

However, regret is expressed over the fact that Serbia has consistently failed to align with EU restrictive measures against Russia.

Regret is also expressed over the fact that "key components of Serbian foreign policy are in direct opposition to EU positions," and in this context, the signing of agreements establishing joint foreign policy priorities of Serbia and Russia for the period 2023-2024 is mentioned, as well as meetings with high-ranking officials from Russia who are on the EU sanctions list.