European Democrats: Aleksandar Vučić receives EU funds, but strengthens ties with Russia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić continues to play with two cards. On the one hand, he benefits from millions of dollars in funding from the European Union, and on the other hand, he continues to strengthen ties with Russia.

The European Democrats have reacted after reports that Vučić hosted Russia's Minister of Economic Development in Belgrade and signed a five-year cooperation agreement that strengthens ties with Moscow.

According to their reaction, this action cannot be interpreted as a pragmatic maneuver in a complex geopolitical context, but constitutes a clear political choice that goes against the European orientation that Serbia claims to follow.

"This is not pragmatism - it is a political choice," the European Democrats stressed in their response, who believe that the continued rapprochement with Russia undermines not only Serbia's credibility as a candidate country for the European Union, but also the EU's unity itself at a time when the bloc faces major challenges in relation to Moscow.

They underline that while Serbia benefits from funds and support from the European Union, the actions of the leadership in Belgrade send opposite signals, openly challenging the values ​​on which the European project is built.

According to reports, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić welcomed Russia's Minister of Economic Development to Belgrade, signing a five-year cooperation deal that tightens ties with Moscow. This is not pragmatism—it is a political choice. While receiving EU funds, Vučić openly… pic.twitter.com/dc4Pm2QzeH

— European Democrats (@democrats_eu) March 22, 2026

According to them, this approach constitutes a dual form of politics that cannot continue without consequences.

The response further states that the EU enlargement process cannot tolerate strategic ambiguity from the aspiring countries. On the contrary, full harmonisation with European standards is required, including functional democracy, the rule of law and, in particular, the common foreign and security policy.

European Democrats warn that any deviation from these principles risks seriously damaging Serbia's European perspective.

According to them, such agreements with Russia at this geopolitical moment not only call into question the country's strategic direction, but also create unnecessary tensions with European partners.

The Geopost