Serbia explains refusal to support sanctions against Russia

Serbia has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its aspirations for EU membership, but refuses to join EU sanctions against Russia.

Minister for European Affairs Nemanja Starovic announced this in an interview with the APA agency, Der Standard reports.

According to the minister, Serbia has clearly condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine from the very first days. At the same time, he explained the refusal to impose sanctions by the fact that the country does not have the security guarantees that full EU membership provides, and restrictive measures could cause serious damage to the Serbian economy without significantly affecting Russia.

“If we are criticized for not doing enough for Ukraine, my answer is simple: let the Ukrainians speak for themselves,” Starovich emphasized.

He also gave an example of what he considered to be an unfair distribution of aid during the COVID-19 pandemic: Croatia, as an EU member, received 22 billion euros from the recovery fund, while Serbia received only 165 million.

Despite this, according to the minister, Belgrade is ready to fully support the sanctions if the EU accession process enters the final phase – several months before membership.

Starovic also stressed that Serbia supports Ukraine’s European integration and positively evaluates the fact that the Ukrainian example has given new impetus to the process of EU enlargement. “Now the Western Balkan countries should also become part of this movement,” he noted.

Let us recall that the ambassadors of the EU countries approved a new, already eighteenth package of sanctions against Russia. This package emphasizes reducing the maximum price of Russian oil, as well as adding to the sanctions list more than a hundred vessels that are part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of the Russian Federation – ships that help to bypass international restrictions.

As reported, the UK has joined the EU energy sanctions against Russia. London has reduced the maximum price for Russian oil from $60 to $47 per barrel.

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