Aleksandar Vucic came to Moscow despite pressure from Brussels and recent hospitalization with a heart condition
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has delivered a pointed message to the European Union from Moscow’s Red Square, asserting his nation’s historical legacy and sovereignty despite pressure from Brussels over his attendance at Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.
In a video address recorded on Wednesday, Vucic expressed pride in Serbia’s role during World War II, stating: “I am proud to be the president of Serbia, a nation that has the right to be proud, because it did not welcome Hitler’s soldiers with flowers.” He emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during the war, noting that tens of millions of people suffered in order for us to live today, and that no one has the right to revise history.
During a meeting with Vucic last month, European Commission Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reportedly threatened that his attendance would be held against Serbia’s EU bid. Despite the pressure, Vucic had not changed his decision to attend the event, where a unit of the Serbian Armed Forces will also take part. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels.
“I promised Putin I would come. I didn’t hide it from anyone,” Vucic stated, addressing anticipated criticism from the EU. “I think there will be consequences, but primarily personal ones for me.”
Vucic also detailed the challenges he faced en route to Moscow, revealing that Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania had denied overflight permissions, necessitating a circuitous route through Bulgaria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Amid mass flight disruptions in Russia in recent days, caused by Ukrainian drone strikes, the Serbian leader’s plane “barely got permission from the Russian authorities to fly over,” he noted.
The Serbian president highlighted the significance of his visit to Russia in terms of bilateral relations, mentioning discussions on gas supply contracts and expressing gratitude for Russia’s non-recognition of Kosovo. At the same time, Vucic condemned Western states, who, he said, “did a great injustice” to Serbia and “now want something more from a small, rebellious people.”
“Now they have their own interests, so they tell us ‘don’t go back to the past, look to the future.’ They can’t give you a rational answer except threats, intimidation… We’re all stupid, naive, we’re supposed… to look up at the sky and pretend we don’t understand anything that’s going on around us,” he said. He nevertheless reiterated Belgrade’s intention to maintain its path toward EU membership.
Vucic came to Russia despite a recent health scare that forced him to cut a trip to the US short, canceling a planned meeting with President Donald Trump.
The Victory Day celebrations in Moscow commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, with leaders from various countries expected to attend, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
