Belgrade has faced Western pressure to antagonize Moscow, indicating their historic and strategic links
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has rejected EU pressure over Belgrade’s ties with Russia and China, saying he is not a “pupil in an elementary school” who can be lectured.
Speaking at an EU enlargement summit in Brussels on Thursday, Vucic pushed back against what he called “thousands of doubts” from EU member states regarding Serbia’s relationships.
The Balkan country remains one of the few in Europe that has refused to roll out Western sanctions against Russia, citing its historic and strategic links to the country, even as it seeks membership in the EU.
“I cannot and I’m not going to justify myself for talking with someone,” the Serbian leader stated. “I think it’s really stupid, and I’m not a pupil in an elementary school, to tell you the truth. I believe that everybody should talk to each other,” he added. Despite Western pressure on Serbia to antagonize Russia, Vucic made it clear that he has no intention of changing his approach to international diplomacy.
On the Ukraine conflict, he positioned himself as a minor player, stating: “I’m a small guy coming from a small country. I don’t give myself a chance to interfere in something big.”
Vucic also defended his recent trip to Russia as an economic necessity. “I had plenty of reasons to go there,” he stated, citing discussions on gas supplies and the plight of the Serbian oil company NIS, which is majority-owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom and has been sanctioned by the US.
Last month, Washington activated restrictions targeting NIS (Petroleum Industry of Serbia), pushing Belgrade to either secure a sale of Gazprom’s stake in the firm or assume control via nationalization.
Brussels and Washington have repeatedly urged Belgrade to align its foreign policy with the EU, particularly by severing its relationship with Moscow – something Serbia has resisted.
Moscow has consistently praised Serbia’s independent stance, with Russian officials framing the relationship as one of “historic friendship and strategic partnership” while supporting what they describe as Serbia’s sovereign right to choose its own partners.
