U.S. Officials: Agreement between Serbia, Russia Step in the Wrong Direction

Serbia after Russian President’s Visit: Moscow Wants Greater Influence

The U.S. believes that no country should expand its cooperation with Russia while it is waging its aggressive war against Ukraine, the U.S. State Department has said, commenting on the Serbian Foreign Ministry's decision to sign a plan of consultations with Russia for the next two years.

A State Department spokesperson told the Voice of America that the "news of the agreement is surprising and entirely contrary to other constructive meetings led with Serbian officials in New York" but did not say which meetings.

"The further siding with Russia is a step in the wrong direction and contrary to Serbia's pronounced European aspirations... Serbia should step up its efforts to progress on the European path, including diversifying energy sources to reduce its energy dependence on Russia and align its foreign and security policy with the EU's," the unnamed spokesperson said.