The European Commission (EC) today expressed regret over Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's departure for a military parade in Moscow and warned that Serbia must re-convince Brussels of its strategic orientation towards the European Union (EU) and demonstrate a credible commitment to European values.
In response to a query from N1 television, the European Commission stated that the EU had been "crystal clear" to partners, including candidate countries such as Serbia, that "relations with the regime of (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin cannot be business as usual at a time of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine."
"The right place to show support for peace on May 9th is Kiev, not Moscow. We therefore strongly regret the Serbian leaders' trip to Moscow and participation in World War II celebrations that Russia is exploiting for propaganda purposes. Serbia must reassure us of its strategic orientation towards the EU and demonstrate a credible commitment to European values," the Commission stated.
The European Commission also stated that it should refrain from "giving legitimacy to Putin's war of aggression."
Vučić attended a military parade on Red Square in Moscow today, marking Victory Day over fascism in World War II, together with host Putin and leaders of more than 20 countries. Also at the parade were Serbian member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović and Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik. Of the leaders of the 27 EU members, only Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was in Moscow.
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