US gives Serbia deadline to decide on sanctions against Russia shortly after government formation

He has made it clear to the Serbian authorities that by the time the excuses will be tolerated to fail to make the final decision on sanctions against Russia. According to Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq's words, this could happen in late July.

Serbia, an EU candidate state, has not imposed sanctions on Russia for launching aggression in Ukraine.

Official Belgrade argues such an attitude with “protecting the country's vital interests” and has also reasoned with non-forcing institutions.

Therefore, Escobar in an online address at the Democracy Summit in Southeast Europe voiced hope that Serbia will join other Western Balkan countries and impose sanctions on Russia following the formation of the new government.

The “almost all Western Balkan countries have agreed in a way to get Russia to pay the price for it (resulting) through sanctions, through support for Ukraine and its people. I hope Serbia will join that group and that it will harmonise with sanctions when it forms the” government, Escobar said.

A similar message from Belgrade has been sent by Violet von Cromon, deputy of the European Parliament, after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq. She said it is up to the new president and government to decide how to deal with Russia and stressed that it is not good to be on the side of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the moment.

What is clear to all is that Vuciq is buying out time by procrastinating and hoping that the conflicts in Ukraine will stop until the formation of the Government, Nova.rs writes.

And to use this as an excuse, American and European officials make it clear in their statements, both to the public and to Vucinciqi himself.