On the one hand, Serbia signs agreements with Putin, and on the other hand, it buys fighter jets from France and is a candidate country for the European Union. This is a deliberately ambiguous policy, while Serbian society feels more sympathy for Russia and China than for Western democracies.
They feel at home there. They develop their talents, become rich, and realize themselves. – Life here turned out to be quite easy for me, because I am one of the few professional skaters in the country. After my first day at the rink, people approached me and asked me to train their children – says Vadim Morus, a Russian living in Belgrade.
Most Serbs consider Russia an ally country
For young Russians who left their homeland after Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, it would be hard to find a better place on the map of Europe. Belgrade and Serbian society welcomed them without prejudice and with open arms.
– Russians have created a semblance of a homeland here. When you go for a walk downtown, you will always meet a Russian. They have created their own micro-society here, they have their own restaurants, meeting places – says Mishell Dia, a social psychologist.
According to public opinion polls, most Serbs consider Russia an ally, even now. At the turn of February and March this year, a poll was conducted on behalf of an American organization working for democracy and freedom in the world. When asked about the country's greatest ally, as many as 46 percent of respondents indicated Russia.
Serbs were asked about their greatest allySurvey conducted in February and March 2024.International Republican Institution
– For several months after the war broke out we lived in Albania, and in mid-July we reached Serbia. We felt very calm and safe here, and we decided that this place was perfect and we should stay here – says Alexandra Mashkanova.
The presence of Russians is boosting the economy. It is estimated that in the first 15 months after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, 30,000 people with Russian passports registered for temporary residence in Serbia. Most of them settled in Belgrade, a city of just under two million people.
– Today's Russian immigrants are mainly experts in narrow fields, such as information technology. In a sense, they can increase the country's GDP, because they produce a certain value, pay taxes, but culturally their contribution will not be significant – says political scientist Aleksandar Djokic.
Serbia itself has been balancing between the West and the East for years. The country has had the status of a candidate for the European Union since 2012. Although Belgrade condemned Russia's aggression, it refused to impose sanctions on it. First, Serbia can count on the Kremlin's support in the matter of not recognizing Kosovo's independence. Second, it is dependent on Russian gas and does not intend to give it up. The contract for the supply of the raw material ends in March next year, but it is to be extended. The contract was discussed in early September in Vladivostok personally between the Serbian deputy prime minister and Vladimir Putin.
– It is known that Russia plays a significant role for Serbia in providing energy resources and does it correctly, at a high level, on time and on very good terms for Serbia – said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron on France's long-term alliance with Serbia
Just days earlier, Emmanuel Macron had arrived in Serbia. Populist President Aleksandar Vucic had signed a deal with him to buy 12 Rafale fighters, in what seemed to be a desire to distance himself from Moscow.
– Serbia has chosen Rafale fighters and it is clear that this decision means a long-term alliance between our two countries within the framework of a stronger and more sovereign Europe – said French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump and Harris on the war in Ukraine, fragment of the debate. Report by the correspondent of “Fakty” TVNTVN24, Reuters
Shortly after this event, the enthusiasm died down. There are simply no prospects for greater integration of Serbia with the West in the coming years.
– I do not believe that Serbia will be part of the European Union in 2028. There are issues that divide us. Sometimes our interests diverge from those of the European Union – said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Serbian authorities, including the conservative Serbian Progressive Party ruling the country, believe that such a policy of playing on two completely different fronts strengthens the country's position on the international stage and increases its negotiation skills. Russia, in turn, has a chance to show that its influence in the Balkans remains enormous.
Facts about the World TVN24 BiS
Main image source: Reuters