Vucic: I Made a Personal Decision Not to Introduce Sanctions against Russia

Aleksandar Vucic, Summit for Democracy, March 29 2023 (Photo: instagram/buducnostsrbijeav)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said during a March 31 visit to Kraljevo that it was his decision for Serbia not to introduce sanctions against Russia for attacking Ukraine.

The president said that he believed the decision was “right” at the moment that it was made, and that “it is still the right decision.” Speaking about requests by the European Union (EU) that Serbia align its policy with the Union’s as a candidate country, and join the EU sanctions against Russia, Vucic said that Serbia had to stay on its path to the EU, and protect traditional friendships.

“There will be all kinds of decisions, but you need to wriggle your way through, because the most important thing is to protect our country and the future of our children,” Vucic said. Vucic, who is also the president of the Serbian Progressive Party, said that he was not avoiding early parliamentary elections or a snap vote for mayor of Belgrade, and that the opposition “can have elections” if they requested them.

The president underlined that his Progressives deserved credit for Serbia’s progress during his term in office, but that he wanted to set up a new movement “to bring together the people who know what loving your country is, and who know what a freedom-loving country Serbia is.”