Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić denied close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and rejected claims that Serbia serves as a ‘Trojan horse’ for Moscow. Speaking at a security conference in Prague, Vučić admitted to good relations with Russia but emphasized that Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Moscow, unlike other European countries. He also acknowledged Serbia’s condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine at international forums.
Despite his positive meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vučić expressed doubt about Serbia’s EU membership by 2028 due to differing interests between the EU and Serbia. The country became an EU candidate in 2012 but has made little progress in rule of law and democratic reforms.
In addition, protestors in Serbia have criticized the Vučić government for democratic backsliding, corruption, and alleged ties to organized crime, leading to heightened tensions. The Freedom House report ranks Serbia as a partly free, hybrid regime with a trend towards authoritarianism.
While Vučić remains steadfast in his stance on Russia and EU membership, tensions both domestically and internationally continue to brew. Serbia’s political landscape remains complex, with challenges in democratic reforms and foreign policy alignment with the EU. The path towards EU membership for Serbia remains uncertain as the country grapples with internal and external pressures.
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