The President of Serbia has announced a turn away from Russia and China towards the European Union.
In particular, in an interview with Handelsblatt, cited by DW, Aleksandar Vucic said that Belgrade has made a strategic decision to develop Europe's largest lithium deposit together with Germany and the European Union, not China, and that he has high hopes for the development of the Serbian economy (the goal is 17% of the European market for electric vehicle batteries) and for accelerating EU integration.
Vucic told German journalists that the idea of joining the European Union is supported by the majority of Serbs, and he is personally a ‘big fan’ of the newly re-elected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has a ‘very rational approach to the Western Balkans’.
At the same time, the Serbian president stressed that he had not met with Vladimir Putin for two and a half years.
When journalists reminded him of Xi Jinping's visit to Belgrade in May and the agreement on Serbia's free trade zone with China, which came into force on 1 July, Vucic replied:
‘But Chancellor Scholz also met with Xi Jinping. Germany also sends members of the government to China, recently (German Economy Minister Robert) Habeck was there, if I'm not mistaken.’
In addition, Vucic reiterated his earlier opinion that ‘the situation in Ukraine will deteriorate’ and advised the West to ‘enter Putin's position’.
‘If he loses, not only will he not be able to bear it personally, but he will lose everything that is his legacy,’ the Serbian leader warned.
He advised Olaf Scholz to seek a ceasefire in Ukraine ‘as soon as possible’ and ‘no matter what the conditions are’.
At the same time, Vucic made it clear that Serbia is ready to continue supplying ammunition, which is ultimately used by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Background. Earlier, it was reported that Serbia was ‘quietly’ supplying weapons to Ukraine's allies, and Vucic does not care what they do with them.