Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to the BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan in October. The Serbian president explains that he expects “important guests from abroad” at the same time and plans to travel to New York.
President Aleksandar Vučić admitted that he received an invitation from the president ten days ago Russia Vladimir Putin for the BRICS summit, which will be held on October 22-24 in Kazan.
– I received a very nice invitation to the BRICS summit, but I have important guests from abroad scheduled for that time. I am also going to New York for the General Assembly session UN and I already know that I will talk to at least six presidents and eight prime ministers – the president explained Serbia.
Aleksandar VucicPAP/EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI
The government in Belgrade refuses to impose sanctions on Russia
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine Serbia accepted thousands of refugees from the attacked country, condemned Russian aggression several times and sent humanitarian aid to Kyiv. President Vucic also met with President Zelensky at that time, but has not even spoken to President Putin since February 2022 – as he himself admitted.
At the same time, the government in Belgrade maintains contacts with Russia and refuses to join the sanctions imposed on that country. On Wednesday, during a conversation with Putin, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin emphasized that “Belgrade is an ally of Moscow and as long as President Vucic rules the country, it will neither accept sanctions nor join NATO.”
Main image source: PAP/EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI