After the presidential and parliamentary elections in Serbia, the pressure on Belgrade to join the sanctions against Russia increased sharply, and for the first time during the Ukrainian crisis, Moscow also showed its dissatisfaction, writes the Moscow daily Komersant.
In the article entitled "Serbia is being attacked from all sides - both the West and Russia are dissatisfied with Belgrade", the newspaper writes that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who found himself in the middle of diplomatic fire from two sides, will take a number of steps to meet the West, but it is unlikely that turned away from Russia.
The pressure on Belgrade is led by Germany, which is considered Serbia's key partner in the European Union (EU), the daily said, adding that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier last Sunday in congratulating Vučić noted that the coordination of Serbia's foreign policy with the EU, especially towards Russia, including and the introduction of sanctions, of key importance.
Komersant writes today that the experts' forecasts that EU and US pressure on Serbia will increase after the elections have come true.
"From the very beginning of the current crisis in Ukraine, the West assessed that it was abnormal that Serbia remained the only one among the members and candidates for the EU that did not join the sanctions. Belgrade received a tacit postponement only until the elections on April 3. Moreover, the West was not satisfied with the fact either. that in the past period, Serbia has supported anti-Russian resolutions in the UN three times, including the recent one that suspended Russia's membership in the Human Rights Council," says Kommersant.
The paper writes that "a new and very unpleasant moment for Vučić, who is trying to sit on two chairs", was that Moscow also expressed dissatisfaction with his position.
The newspaper quotes the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova, who stated that Moscow does not understand the representatives of countries that strive for an independent, balanced policy, and who say that they are subjected to unprecedented pressure from Western countries and that is why they are making compromises.
"We don't understand that. We know that pressure is being exerted. But if it's about those who claim to be our friends, it's impossible to understand," Komersant quoted Zaharova as saying.
Vučić can show a "friendly relationship towards Russia" soon, even if he still does not join the Western sanctions, as well as remember the wish of President Vladimir Putin - to include more politicians in the Government of Serbia who are oriented towards the development of relations with Russia. writes the paper.
Dnevnik states that the main partner of Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party is Ivica Dacić's Socialist Party of Serbia, who is considered "one of the key pro-Russian politicians" in Serbia.
However, the paper points to the statement of the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, that there is no agreement that Dačić will be the Prime Minister.
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