Serbia and Russia will jointly mark Victory Day over Fascism, which is celebrated on May 9, the Serbian Government announced.
The statement says that at today's session, a decision was made to establish a Working Group to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II.
"The task of this working group is to realize the joint celebration of this important date by Serbia and the Russian Federation," the Serbian Government announced.
Victory Day over Fascism is celebrated on May 9, commemorating the day in 1945 when Nazi Germany signed the capitulation in World War II.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in a statement on April 23 that he would go to Moscow on May 9 for the Victory Day parade, where he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vučić said that he would discuss with Putin a new gas arrangement and a solution for the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), which the United States has imposed sanctions on due to its majority Russian ownership.
The European Union (EU) reacted to Vučić's announcement of his departure to Moscow, stating that the EU "wants to count on Serbia as a reliable partner" and that it needs to convince European partners of its strategic direction.
In a response to Radio Free Europe (RFE), a spokesperson for the European Commission added that the Union had been completely clear with its partners, including candidate countries such as Serbia.
"Relations with Russia cannot proceed on the principle of 'business as usual' with the regime of Vladimir Putin, especially in light of the unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine," adds Guillaume Mercier, spokesperson for enlargement and international partnership, in a written response.
The Serbian president announced his first visit to Russia since the Kremlin launched a military invasion of Ukraine three years ago in early March, after a phone conversation with Putin.
In further addresses, Vučić insisted that he was not changing his decision to leave, despite the fact that, as he said, the West could respond with some form of sanctions.
As a candidate for EU membership, Serbia has not opened any negotiation chapters as of December 2021.
It is stalled due to its refusal to align its foreign policy with that of the EU and impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Brussels is also demanding progress from Belgrade on the rule of law and dialogue with Kosovo.
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