BELGRADE, Serbia — The leader of Serbia, a candidate for European Union membership, affirmed that the country will persist in its refusal to impose sanctions against Russia, despite mounting pressure from the West. This statement followed a recent phone call between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Vucic described on social media as an important step for enhancing the relationship between Russia and Serbia.

In his Instagram post, Vucic noted that the conversation, his first with Putin in over two years, was characterized by familiarity and warmth, referring to Putin as a longtime friend. He expressed confidence that their dialogue would facilitate further developments in trust and cooperation.

While Vucic did not confirm whether he would attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, which is led by Russia and China, he emphasized Serbia’s independent decision-making regarding international relations. Even though Serbia is formally pursuing EU membership, it maintains a historical allegiance to Russia and has declined to participate in Western sanctions against Moscow in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Vucic has stated that adhering to such sanctions does not align with Serbia’s national interests.

The Serbian president acknowledged that he anticipates forthcoming criticism from Western nations about his engagement with Putin. However, he maintained that “Serbia is a sovereign country which makes its own decisions.” He also expressed gratitude to Russia for supplying ample gas to Serbia at favorable prices, emphasizing the country’s historical energy dependence on Russia while noting recent efforts to diversify its energy sources.

On the same day, Serbia commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of its capital, Belgrade, from Nazi occupation during World War II. This historical event, largely attributed to the efforts of the former Yugoslavia’s communist partisans and the Soviet Red Army, was marked by significant displays of pro-Russian sentiment in the city. Thousands participated in a march, waving Russian flags and chanting supportive slogans.

During the anniversary celebrations, Vucic delivered remarks in Russian, stating that this gesture was a mark of respect towards the Red Army. He underscored the pivotal role the army played in securing Belgrade’s liberation, affirming, “without the Red Army, there would not have been the liberation of Belgrade.”