Serbia reiterates that it will not impose sanctions against Russia

Serbia will not impose sanctions against Russia for political, human and moral reasons, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said in an interview with Prva TV.

“Question [санкций против России] – this is not a question for the East or for the West, it is a question for Serbia whether you are <...> We, for our political, economic, human, moral reasons, because we were once victims of sanctions, cannot and will not join the sanctions against the Russian Federation,” the minister said.

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 declaredthat does not consider sanctions 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”.

Earlier, the EU countries have repeatedly criticized the Serbian authorities for their unwillingness to join the sanctions against Russia. In June 2022, MEPs adopted a resolution requiring Belgrade to join the EU sanctions.

In December of the same year, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Vargelyi informedthat Serbia should be on the side of the EU and help in the designated way to carry out sanctions against Russia for entry into the union.