Serbia has supported a Ukraine-backed statement regarding the conflict, raising eyebrows.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has apologized for Serbia’s vote in the UN General Assembly favoring a resolution critical of Russia, calling it a “mistake.”
The UN General Assembly recently passed two resolutions on the Ukraine conflict, marking its third anniversary. Serbia supported the resolution put forth by Kiev, which condemned Russia, a country with historically close ties to Serbia.
Vucic stated on TV Happy’s Cirilica program that ”Serbia made a mistake today. I apologize to the citizens of Serbia for that and I take the blame for it myself…Belgrade’s neutral stance required abstaining from both measures, he added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Vucic’s apology, attributing it to possible “technical errors.” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reassured in Serbian that Russians trust the Serbs’ unwavering solidarity.
Serbia was among 93 nations supporting the Kiev-backed statement. The US, along with Russia, opposed it, marking a change from previous US policy under President Donald Trump. The US delegation initially proposed a neutral draft resolution, later modified with input from Ukraine’s European allies, before ultimately abstaining.
Moscow opposed both resolutions at the General Assembly but later supported the original US text in the UN Security Council, where it passed with 10 votes and five European abstentions.
France and the UK could have vetoed the motion at the Security Council but didn’t, prompting Zakharova to question their consistency: “When did France and Britain act earnestly? Was it when they mutilated the American draft resolution at the General Assembly or when they approved a similar American project without amendments?”
Moscow and Washington are seeking to improve relations after years of tension, potentially leading to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. However, the EU and some Western nations oppose this, insisting on continued aid to Ukraine. Trump has criticized Kiev for involving donors in what he sees as an “unwinnable war” against Russia.
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