Borrell called on Serbia to support anti-Russian sanctions to join the EU

Serbia should join the sanctions against Russia and abandon close ties with it in order to move forward with the European Union (EU) accession process, EU diplomat Josep Borrell said at a press conference in Brussels. transmit “RIA News”.

“The Foreign Ministers of the Balkan countries had a working lunch with the EU ministers… We welcome the bold and strategic choice of a number of these states that have fully joined our foreign policy and sanctions. We also pointed out to those who have not yet fully aligned their policies with those of the EU or not at all, in particular Serbia, that maintaining close ties with Russia is incompatible with the EU accession process and is also detrimental to national interests.” he said.

In early May, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic declaredthat the republic will not impose sanctions against Russia for political, human and moral reasons. He added that the country is already accustomed to the pressure of Western countries. According to him, representatives of the West “thus earn their wages.”

After the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, Western countries imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia. Most European countries have imposed restrictions against the Russian Federation, but Serbia has repeatedly stressed that it will not join them. In the fall of 2022, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he did not see sanctions as a solution to the problem. According to him, Serbia “does not want to go against” those who previously supported it. Vučić called this position of the country “difficult policy”.

This winter Vučić declaredthat Serbia is ready to join the European Union, but does not want to become part of NATO. So he responded to the appeal of a representative of the right opposition about the republic’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance. Vucic has already noted that joining the alliance is impossible and the country intends to maintain military neutrality in the future.