Vučić says he hasn’t spoken to Putin in over a year

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for over a year. About this Vucic told in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

He explained that he had not spoken to the Russian leader for over a year, although he had seen many EU leaders travel to him or contact him in some other way. “I think it’s not bad to talk to someone. But I don’t do it, because everyone would say: “Look at the Serbs.” What they want to forbid us, they allow themselves, ”- told Vučić (quote from RIA Novosti).

May 31, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov declaredthat Russia is in constant communication with Serbia through diplomatic channels. When asked if contacts between the presidents are planned, he said that “no at the highest level.”

The Kremlin is concerned about the development of the situation in Kosovo. Russia supports Serbia and the Serbs and believes that all the rights and interests of the Kosovo Serbs must be respected, Peskov added.

On May 26, another aggravation took place in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. In several municipalities, the population of which represents the Serb majority, protests began over the results of the last elections, which were won by the Albanians. Serbian protesters demanded the cancellation of the results and the resignation of the heads of municipalities. In response, the Kosovo police fired tear gas and stun grenades in some municipalities. As a result of the clashes, 52 Serbs and 41 KFOR peacekeepers were injured.

On the same day, the Serbian army was put on full alert and advanced to the administrative border with Kosovo. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions of the Kosovo authorities in connection with “new anti-Serb provocations.” The EU and NATO called on the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to stop the escalation. May 30 became knownthat NATO will send an additional 700 troops to Kosovo and raise the level of readiness of another battalion so that it can be sent if necessary.