EU's von der Leyen Declines Meeting with Serbian PM Following His Russia Visit
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called off her discussions with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, referencing his recent meeting with a Russian official. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Brussels has called off a scheduled meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic due to his recent engagement with a Russian official.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Belgrade as part of a Balkans tour, during which she met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. A meeting with Vucevic was planned as well.
“We canceled the meeting with the prime minister after his meeting with the Russian economy minister,” said the EU ambassador to Serbia, Emmanuel Gioffre, in remarks to AFP. He emphasized that Serbia indicated its intention to “strengthen its economic relations with Russia.”
Vucevic had a discussion with Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov, during which he expressed gratitude for Moscow’s support regarding Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Serbia greatly appreciates this support and will not forget,” Vucevic remarked. He also expressed appreciation for Moscow inviting Belgrade to participate in the recent BRICS summit in Kazan.
Although Vucic decided not to attend the summit due to von der Leyen’s and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visits, other cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, attended the BRICS meetings.
Reshetnikov articulated Moscow’s gratitude for Serbia’s refusal to comply with EU sanctions against Russia. Serbia has declared military neutrality and has consistently resisted pressure from Brussels to align its foreign policy with the EU’s stance.
Both Vucic and his cabinet have frequently criticized what they perceive as hypocrisy and double standards from the West, particularly in relation to Ukraine’s territorial integrity while demanding that Serbia acknowledge Kosovo, a province governed by NATO-backed ethnic Albanians, as an independent state.
While Serbia is officially aiming for EU membership, the bloc has made this contingent on Serbia sanctioning Russia and recognizing Kosovo, demands Vucic has firmly rejected.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Belgrade as part of a Balkans tour, during which she met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. A meeting with Vucevic was planned as well.
“We canceled the meeting with the prime minister after his meeting with the Russian economy minister,” said the EU ambassador to Serbia, Emmanuel Gioffre, in remarks to AFP. He emphasized that Serbia indicated its intention to “strengthen its economic relations with Russia.”
Vucevic had a discussion with Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov, during which he expressed gratitude for Moscow’s support regarding Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Serbia greatly appreciates this support and will not forget,” Vucevic remarked. He also expressed appreciation for Moscow inviting Belgrade to participate in the recent BRICS summit in Kazan.
Although Vucic decided not to attend the summit due to von der Leyen’s and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visits, other cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, attended the BRICS meetings.
Reshetnikov articulated Moscow’s gratitude for Serbia’s refusal to comply with EU sanctions against Russia. Serbia has declared military neutrality and has consistently resisted pressure from Brussels to align its foreign policy with the EU’s stance.
Both Vucic and his cabinet have frequently criticized what they perceive as hypocrisy and double standards from the West, particularly in relation to Ukraine’s territorial integrity while demanding that Serbia acknowledge Kosovo, a province governed by NATO-backed ethnic Albanians, as an independent state.
While Serbia is officially aiming for EU membership, the bloc has made this contingent on Serbia sanctioning Russia and recognizing Kosovo, demands Vucic has firmly rejected.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
