Serbia’s Prime Minister Miloš Vučević told AFP on 25 June that Serbia is not a belligerent in the Russo-Ukrainian war, despite selling ammunition to Western buyers who are likely supplying Kyiv.
Historically allied with Russia, Serbia has been an EU candidate since 2009, yet most Serbs continue to favor Russia over the EU. In 2023, President Aleksandar Vučić expressed decreased enthusiasm for EU membership. Serbia relies on Moscow to oppose Kosovo’s international recognition and UN membership, despite recognition from most Western states. Serbia condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine but refuses to join international sanctions against Russia.
Speaking to AFP, Vučević defended Serbia’s right to sell ammunition, stating,
“It is not a Serbian contribution to one of the belligerents,” he said, adding, “I don’t want to prevent companies from selling our ammunition to Spain, the Czech Republic, the United States… because it is not prohibited and it is not immoral for us to produce weapons and ammunition which, unfortunately, are also used where there is war.”
The Financial Times reported earlier that the value of ammunition Kyiv has received from Belgrade since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 amounts to approximately 800 million euros. This figure was confirmed by President Vučić, who said it is in the right ballpark for 2–3 years.
“This is a part of our economic revival and important for us. Yes, we do export our ammunition,” Vučić told in an interview with FT on 22 June, noting: “Even if I know [where the ammunition ends up], that’s not my job. My job is to secure the fact that we deal legally with our ammunition.”
Back in May during Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s visit to Serbia, PM Vučević said:
“Serbia is committed to respecting international law and the territorial integrity of United Nations member states, including Ukraine … We are open to friendly discussions on all issues and at all levels.”
Read also:
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- Serbia and ten other countries sign declaration supporting Ukraine’s peace plan at Tirana summit
- Media: Russia plans to boost recruitment of Serbs to battle against Ukraine
