The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has canceled a meeting with the Prime Minister, Milos Vucevic, confirmed for the Serbian section of Radio Free Europe, the spokesperson of the EC, Eric Mamer. The reason, according to the speaker, is today's meeting of the Serbian Prime Minister with the Minister of Economic Development of Russia Maxim Reshetnikov, who is on a working visit to Belgrade.
According to a representative of Brussels, the announcement of the Serbian government after this meeting, which talks about the further strengthening of economic and comprehensive cooperation with Russia, is reason enough for the president of the European Commission to "immediately decide" to cancel the meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia.
Vucevic talked with Reshetnikov about further strengthening the economic and overall cooperation between the two countries.
Serbia has supported Ukraine's territorial integrity, but despite being a candidate for EU membership, refuses to join EU sanctions against Moscow over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement by the government of Serbia states that the Prime Minister, speaking about the sanctions against Russia, said that "despite great pressure" Serbia leads a free and independent policy and that it has good cooperation both with Russia and with the EU, China and other countries.
Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Belgrade as part of a four-day tour of the Western Balkans. Earlier today, she met with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, with whom she discussed Serbia's European path.