Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has denied claims of close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Serbia is not a ‘Trojan horse’ for Moscow. Speaking at a security conference in Prague, Vučić admitted to the strong historical bond between Serbia and Russia, but defended his decision to not impose sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that Serbia had condemned the invasion on international platforms despite not following the rest of Europe in imposing sanctions.
Vučić also acknowledged that Serbia’s path to EU membership is challenging, pointing out the need to align with EU foreign policies, including sanctions on Russia. He expressed doubts about Serbia becoming an EU member state by 2028, citing differences in interests between Serbia and the EU.
The Vučić government has faced criticism for democratic backsliding, corruption, and alleged links to organized crime, leading to anti-government protests. Serbia’s political rights score in the Freedom House report ranks it as a partly free, hybrid regime with tendencies towards authoritarianism.
Despite these challenges, Vučić remains determined to navigate Serbia towards EU membership, emphasizing the need for rule of law and democratic reforms. While Serbia has made little progress in these areas since becoming an EU candidate country in 2012, Vučić is committed to addressing the issues in order to meet the EU’s membership criteria.
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