The sanctioned Serbian minister shows the government’s commitment to expanding ties with Russia

“Serbia currently remains the only European country that rejects ‘Russophobia’.” With this statement, the minister of the new Serbian government, Nenad Popovic, tried to disguise Serbia’s strong ties with Russia.

“We are the only country in Europe that rejects any form of Russophobia with disgust,” he emphasized, referring to the frequent meetings between the heads of state and government of the two countries and the various forms of cooperation.

“Russian-Serbian cooperation has developed dynamically in recent years and has the potential for further strengthening,” the minister emphasized.

According to him, in the context of the conflict in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations between Russia and Western countries, Serbian products continue to penetrate the Russian market, while politicians and cultural figures from Russia visit Belgrade.

Nenad Popovic has been subject to sanctions by the USA since November 2023, while sanctions were imposed on Vulin in July of the same year. Both are on the “blacklist” due to their links to the Kremlin, among other things.

Serbia’s new government includes two of the most controversial figures who have demonstrated their dangerous nationalist beliefs and ties to Russia. Nenad Popović is one of them and with him Aleksandar Vulin, the former head of the secret service, who has been under the sanctions of the United States of America since July 2023 – he is deputy prime minister of the new Serbian government.

The US State Department also reacted to these appointments, stating that the US was “disappointed” by the proposal of Vulini and Popovic, adding that both remain under sanctions, as the US attitude towards them is well known.

The new Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, had also indicated during his speech in the Serbian parliament that his country would strengthen relations with Russia, its traditional ally, as well as with China, with which Serbia is building relations and cooperation.

“Serbia cannot and will not give up friendship with Russia, whose people we consider brotherly, as is the case with the Ukrainians,” he said. “We have clearly condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but stated that we will not join the sanctions policy,” said Vučević /TheGeopost/