Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has denied claims of having close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and rejected the idea that Serbia is a ‘Trojan horse’ for Moscow. Speaking at the GLOBESEC security conference in Prague, Vučić emphasized that Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia in solidarity with its historical ties, despite condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
While acknowledging that Serbia has not aligned with the rest of Europe on imposing sanctions, Vučić stated that he had a positive conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, he expressed doubts about Serbia becoming an EU member state by 2028 due to differences in interests between the EU and Serbia.
Serbia, which became an EU candidate country in 2012, has faced challenges in meeting the necessary criteria for membership, including rule of law and democratic reforms. The country must also align its foreign policies with the EU, which would involve imposing sanctions on Russia.
Recent protests in Serbia have highlighted concerns about democratic backsliding under the Vučić government, with accusations of increasing authoritarianism, corruption, and ties to organized crime. The most recent Freedom House report categorizes Serbia as a partly free regime with a tendency towards authoritarianism.
As Serbia navigates its path towards potential EU membership, Vučić’s statements at the conference shed light on the country’s complex political landscape and its relationship with the EU and Russia.
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