Serbian president urges EU to change its Western Balkans strategy

BELGRADE, Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic urged the European Union on Thursday to change its Western Balkans strategy and make strategic decisions on the bloc enlargement.

"I believe that, instead of repeating and repeating the same messages, we need a real strategic conversation between all of us who are sitting here and some other countries," Vucic said in his address to the European Political Community (EPC) meeting in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

He added that Serbia remains on the EU path and is a loyal partner of the bloc, while Europe needs a strategic conversation in the new circumstances.

According to Vucic, a truce or cease-fire in the war in Ukraine is critical for everyone in Europe, and he does not believe in the idea that ''someone must win and that Europe must have a winner.''

"When, how? How will (Russian President) Putin win? How will we win? Are we ready to sacrifice five (or) ten million people? Any of you? Any of us? No, I can't say anything to the Ukrainians, to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy... That's why I'm only saying a truce or a ceasefire is of the greatest importance for everyone in Europe," the Serbian president said.

He added that he fully supports Ukraine's efforts to join the EU as well as its economic struggles during the war.

"Everything else will lead us to further disaster and that's it," he said.

A truce or cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia is critical for everyone in Europe; otherwise, everything will lead to disaster, Vucic warned.