Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić recently had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he claimed took place after nearly two and a half years of no contact.
During this conversation, Vučić stated that he and Putin had an open and meaningful discussion, and confirmed that Serbia would not impose sanctions on Russia.
“I just finished a conversation with Putin; we haven’t spoken for nearly two and a half years. We had a good, open, long, and meaningful conversation about the occasion – the 80th anniversary of Belgrade’s liberation, and I thanked Putin for his congratulations, noting the unyielding and freedom-loving spirit of the Serbian people and Serbia’s gratitude,” said Vučić.
But what is the truth behind Vučić’s claims of discussions with Putin?
As in previous instances, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić lied when he mentioned not having spoken with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for nearly two and a half years.
A quick check of international media reveals news of a meeting between Vučić and Putin, even in Beijing, China.
Thus, Vučić’s claim that he hadn’t spoken with Putin for nearly two and a half years doesn’t hold up, as the two had a physical meeting just a year ago, on October 19, 2023, a fact confirmed by the Serbian leader himself to foreign media.
Instead of attending the Berlin Process Summit in Tirana, Vučić traveled to China a year ago to sign a series of trade agreements, leaving Prime Minister Ana Brnabić to represent Serbia at the Summit.
During his stay in China, he signed several trade agreements and met with Putin. When a Channel One journalist asked him about the meeting, Vučić stated: “As usual. We have a friendly relationship.”
Putin is internationally wanted by the International Criminal Court for the abduction of children from Ukraine and other war crimes related to the invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Vučić has refused to align Serbia’s foreign policy with the EU or the West and has deepened ties with Russia since the war began, for which, he claims, Putin has expressed gratitude.
The details of their discussions in the Chinese capital were never revealed.
Both Vučić and Putin were in Beijing to attend the international forum for China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
This marked the first time they were in the same location since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
