Von der Leyen cancels meeting with Serbian Prime Minister due to his meeting with Russian minister

(Patria) - European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen cancelled her meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević today, EC spokesperson Eric Mamer confirmed to Radio Free Europe (RSE).

According to the EC spokesperson, the reason for cancelling the meeting is the Serbian Prime Minister's meeting today with the Russian Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov.

Von der Leyen arrived in Belgrade today as part of a four-day tour of the Western Balkans, and has already met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, with whom she discussed Serbia's European path.

According to a Brussels official, the statement issued after the meeting between Vučević and Reshetnikov, which spoke of further strengthening economic and overall cooperation with Russia, was sufficient reason for the European Commission President to "immediately decide" to cancel the meeting with the Serbian Prime Minister.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, told AFP that according to the statement published on the Serbian Government's website, which he said was later removed, there was an "indication of Serbia's intention to strengthen economic relations in other areas with the Russian Federation".

- In that light, the EC President believes there is no reason to hold a meeting with the Prime Minister - he added.

Vučević discussed further strengthening of economic and overall cooperation between the two countries with Reshetnikov.

Serbia has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity, but despite being an EU candidate country, it refuses to join the sanctions against Russia imposed by the EU due to the invasion of Ukraine.

The Serbian Government's statement also stated that the Prime Minister, speaking about sanctions against Russia, said that Serbia, "despite great pressure", pursues a free and independent policy and has good cooperation with Russia, as well as with the EU, China, and other countries.