Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. File photoBELGRADE, June 10 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his visit to Serbia «clearly and sharply» demanded that the country's authorities join the EU sanctions against Russia, said President Aleksandar Vučić.
" ;I spoke about our position and the situation around Kosovo and Metohija, about energy and traditional relations with Russia", he also said at a joint press conference after the meeting.
Before that, the President of Serbia met the head of the German government at the Belgrade airport with a guard of honor and a red carpet. Then, to the sounds of the national anthems of the two countries, as well as with the formation of a guard of honor and a line of government members, the head of state welcomed the guest at the government complex «Chamber of Serbia», where negotiations took place. Scholz is visiting the Western Balkans, he began his trip with the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. After meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, he said that by imposing sanctions against Russia, the Kosovo government showed that it «stands on our side in the international community», and also called the accession to the EU of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo impossible without the mutual recognition of Belgrade and Pristina.
Serbia loses 600 million dollars a year due to Western sanctionsAfter the start of a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, the West has stepped up sanctions pressure on Moscow. Restrictive measures primarily affected the banking sector and high-tech products. Many brands announced their withdrawal from Russia. Moscow called such steps an economic war, noting that it was ready for such a scenario. The Central Bank is taking measures to stabilize the situation on the foreign exchange market, thanks to which the ruble has significantly strengthened against the dollar and the euro, breaking five-year highs. Russia also transferred payments for gas supplies to unfriendly countries into rubles. Another step to combat the impact of Western sanctions was the plan prepared by the government, which includes about a hundred initiatives. The volume of its funding will amount to about a trillion rubles. At the same time, in the West, restrictions provoked a record increase in fuel and food prices. Russia