Ukrainian Ambassador: We Understand That Serbia Depends of Russia, Yet Hope Serbia Will Introduce Sanctions

Volodyimyr Tolkach (BETAPHOTO/MEDIA CENTER)

Ukrainian ambassador to Serbia Volodymyr Tolkach said on Aug. 25 that Ukraine was aware that Serbia depended on Russia for natural gas and Kosovo,  and that this made it impossible for the country to join the European Union’s sanctions against Moscow, but that Ukraine still hoped that Belgrade would reconsider its position in time.

When asked by BETA if Kyiv expected Belgrade to alter its policy on international sanctions against Russia in the wake of a meeting between the Ukrainian and Serbian presidents in Athens, he said that the hope was that Serbia would choose a pro-European policy in the future, with respect to Russia as well.

“Globally, we all depend on each other. Using energy to carry on with the aggression and mass murder of Ukraine’s women and children, too, cannot be an excuse. Instead, this demands that the murderer be castigated more severely, and their abilities restricted. Hence, we will welcome Serbia’s decision to introduce sanctions against the Russian Federation,” he said.

Tolkach underlined that Ukraine was grateful to Serbia for condemning the Russian aggression, and supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine by voting for resolutions passed by the U.N. General Assembly and other organizations. The ambassador reiterated that Ukraine’s position on Kosovo remained unchanged, and that his country supported and respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.