Serbia Under Pressure to Join Sanctions Against Russia, Says Vucic

Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday evening that after Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the Russian-backed Ukrainian rebel regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, Serbia is already facing pressure to impose sanctions on Russia, as the US and EU are expected to do.

"Everything we knew yesterday no longer exists today. We see that peace is no longer something that can be taken for granted," Vucic said in an interview with pro-government TV Pink, adding that Serbia's commitment to peace must now be "stronger and stronger".

Vucic, who has long attempted to balance his foreign policy between the West and Russia, admitted his country was in a difficult position as many other leaders in the Balkans and south-east Europe voiced support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemned Putin's move as a violation of international law which could quickly lead to war.

The Serbian president said that during ten years in power, he had experienced a lot of pressure, including the 'Brussels agreement' on status of Kosovo and "other inconveniences", but that what he experienced in the last three days indicates that more serious pressure is yet to come and that "it will not be easy for Serbia".

"I have already had calls for sanctions against Russia. Not with [French President Emmanuel] Macron, I talked to him about the issues of the Western Balkans. Now, everyone has rushed to Serbia at once. We will not get through this crisis easily, but easier than others," he said.

Russia and Serbia have longstanding historical ties and Serbia imports almost all of its gas from Russia's energy giant Gazprom, with domestic production covering only roughly 15 per cent of its needs. However, Serbia is also seeking to join the EU, and is under...