BELGRADE: Serbia's president said on Wednesday that the European Union's calls for his country to join sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict are "brutal" meddling in the internal affairs of the Balkan state, which has asked to join the EU.
Aleksandar Vucic praised his and his country's economic and political achievements in his year-end address to the nation, comparing himself to a wolf that cannot be tamed under international pressure.
"Thank you very much for interfering in our internal affairs in such a brutal manner," he said of the Western appeals.
Despite officially wanting to become an EU member, Serbia has repeatedly ignored calls to align its foreign policy with the 27-nation bloc, including joining international sanctions against Moscow over the war. in Ukraine.
An increasing number of EU member states are proposing to postpone Serbia's application for accession until it complies with the bloc's foreign policy.
Serbia remains the only European country along with Belarus to refuse to introduce sanctions against Russia, its Slavic ally.
Although formally seeking EU membership, Serbia has repeatedly ignored calls to align its foreign policies with the 27-nation bloc, including joining international sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
An increasing number of EU member states are proposing to postpone Serbia's application for accession until it complies with the bloc's foreign policy.
Serbia remains the only European country along with Belarus to refuse to introduce sanctions against Russia, its Slavic ally.
Russia has supported Serbia's claim to its former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 with Western backing.
Vucic said senior US and European officials will visit Serbia in the coming days to discuss possible solutions to tensions over Kosovo, which have escalated in recent weeks with Serbia's deployment troops to the common border. Northern Kosovo has a large Serb minority.
"We wanted peace, and we barely saved it," Vucic said. “There is no fault on our part. We have not provoked anyone, not even for a second, unless some see it as a provocation we consider our people in Kosovo as citizens of our country.