Serbia will continue to pursue European Union membership and maintain friendship with Russia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a phone call, according to the Serbian presidential press service.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on his convincing victory in the presidential election and on the significant success that the Serbian Progressive Party achieved in the parliamentary election. He wished happiness and success as head of state to President Vucic and prosperity to Serbia in the next five years, affirming that Serbia and Russia would maintain truly friendly relations. President Vucic thanked him for the congratulations, stating that Serbia would maintain sincere and traditionally friendly ties with Russia while pursuing EU membership,” the statement reads.

“President Putin also briefed President Vucic on the developments in Ukraine and the reasons for – as Putin said – Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, while President Vucic reiterated Serbia’s position and the conclusions of the National Security Council, which Putin is well aware of, and expressed hope that the conflict in Ukraine would end in the near future,” the statement added.

Vucic said at a press conference on April 3 that Serbia would remain militarily neutral and would also seek to maintain partnership and friendly relations with Russia.

Serbia’s foreign policy course envisages accession to the EU while maintaining friendly relations with Moscow and Beijing, as well as developing ties with Washington. Serbia intends to maintain military neutrality, refusing to join NATO and other blocs. This stance, however, raises objections in the West. Serbia has repeatedly received signals that its European integration is possible only under two conditions – it if recognizes Kosovo’s independence and ends friendly relations with Russia.

Source: Agencies