State Department on Serbian Weapons in Ukraine: We Must All Help Resist Russian Aggression

State Department (Photo: YTPrintScreen)

The U.S. State Department said on July 12 that "Ukraine is defending its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity" and that "everyone should do everything possible to support Ukraine's necessary response to the Russian aggression."

The State Department's statement came in response to a question by Radio Free Europe regarding the exporting of Serbian weapons to Ukraine. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien stated on July 8 that "by making its weapons available, Serbia is helping Ukraine defend the essential principle of international law."

The news of weapons produced in Serbia being used by Ukrainian forces was published in April 2023. At the time, confidential Pentagon documents leaked online indicated that Serbia had agreed to arm Ukraine. The authorities in Serbia immediately denied that any direct exports to Ukraine had been carried out, maintaining their neutral stance in the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic clarified later that the state had signed contracts with numerous Western countries, and could not know "what they do with the weapons in the end."

Serbia is one of the few European countries that, despite calls from the U.S. and the European Union, has not imposed sanctions on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine and is maintaining close ties with Russian officials.