Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in Moscow that he expects “very difficult reactions” from the European Union due to his visit to Russia, but that his response to that will be “serious”.
“I know how it goes: when the first two of them appear, then another one who will come up with an initiative against me. But if they thought I would remain silent, as some kept silent to them, I will not. My response will be serious, responsible and prepared in advance,” Vučić said on Thursday, addressing reporters, Radio Free Europe reports.
Vučić arrived in the Russian capital on the eve of the celebration of Victory Day in World War II on May 9, and a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been announced – the first since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He said that Serbia would continue to move along the European path and reiterated that if anyone has to “pay the price” of the visit to Moscow, it will be him, not the state.
Vučić said that he had not lied to anyone and that eight or nine months ago, when he spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he promised to attend the Victory Day parade.
“A promise is something that must be fulfilled when it is difficult. A man sticks to his word, and a bull by the horns. And if you have given your word, then it is yours to do everything to fulfill it,” Vučić said.
As he said, he will discuss with Putin, among other things, the gas agreement and the Oil Industry of Serbia, which is majority owned by Russia and is under US sanctions.
