Putin dislikes Serbia's approach to US, cancels visit to Belgrade

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not visit Belgrade in October, as announced by Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq on several occasions in recent months, Danas reports, referring to representatives close to diplomatic circles.

Serbian newspaper sources say the Kremlin did not reveal the reason for the annulment of the planned visit, but they stress that the “rus dislike Serbia's approach to the United States in the foreign policy field, which was especially evident during the signing of the White House agreement, for normalising economic relations between Belgrade and Pristina”.

The White House Agreement between Serbia and Kosovo marks another turning point on Russia's Balkan lost influence, which is exasperating the Kremlin. Russia's closest partner in the Balkans, Serbia, is resolving the dispute over Kosovo without Russian participation in negotiations and approaching the US, whose impact is growing at Russia's expense. Posting an insulting post on Twitter, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova probably believed she was expressing the will of her “political owners” to condemn Serbia for treason. But Putin quickly apologised for Zakharova's co-operation, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov backed Washington's agreement and the prospect of reaching a Serbia-Kosovo agreement, so Russia will try to maintain good relations with Serbia, although it is noted the strengthening of US influence in Serbia,” said sources from diplomatic circles for Danas.

Vuciq in June had received confirmation from Putin that he will visit Serbia on 20 October.