Putin is not bluffing, says Serbian president on 'nuclear threat'

BELGRADE, Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday Russia's "threat to unleash nuclear weapons" should be taken seriously.

"I have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin many times. I don't believe that he is bluffing about a threat to unleash nuclear weapons," he said in an interview with American television channel Newsmax.

His remarks came after Putin announced partial military mobilization, which has been widely perceived as a nuclear threat.

"As the president of Serbia, I can say that I hope that peace will prevail and we hope that everyone will do their best to reach a compromise solution, because that is better than waiting for the defeat of the other side," he added.

Vucic said Serbia has a different attitude toward Russia because of the opportunities to improve the energy sector.

"We have always had traditionally good relations with Russia, but also with Ukraine. We have always supported the territorial integrity of all countries in the world, acted in accordance with the UN charter and resolutions, and that is why we condemned the incursion and invasion at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. At the same time, we have different attitude toward Russia on some other issues, because we have to evaluate all the opportunities how to improve our energy sector, how to diversify our energy sources of supply," said Vucic.

Putin announced earlier Wednesday partial military mobilization in Russia of 300,000 reservists to support what is being viewed as his flagging war effort in Ukraine, ahead of planned referenda on joining Russia in parts of Ukraine.