Vucic: Serbia Respects Ukraine’s Integrity, Not in Contact with Russian Leadership

Baerbock, Vucic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on March 11 that since the beginning of Russia’s attack on Ukraine he had had no contact whatsoever with the Russian leadership, and that Serbia had nothing to do with the conflict.

Replying to a journalist’s question if he was planning to distance himself clearly from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vucic said after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock that “I don’t understand what Serbia should distance itself from.”

“What do we have to do with the conflict in Ukraine, what has Serbia done wrong? We are not discussing figures, there is no love and hate here, only respect for international law. Ukraine respected the territorial integrity of Serbia, and Serbia respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the U.N. General Assembly Serbia has merely supported the argument that attacks and threats against the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state are unacceptable,” Vucic explained.

When asked to comment on Ukrainian and Russian calls for volunteers, the Serbian president said that under the Criminal Code of Serbia participating in conflicts other than those serving the purpose of defending the territorial integrity of Serbia was punishable, and that everyone taking part in wars would be punished.