Conflicts

This is Russia's betrayal: Serbia has secretly increased its sales of ammunition to the West and strengthened Ukraine’s defense. At the same time, the country has not adhered to Western sanctions against Russia.

The Financial Times estimates that Serbia has exported €800 million worth of ammunition to its Western allies since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These weapons then ended up in Kiev via third countries.

Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, has called the situation a business opportunity. At the same time, Vucic insists that he will not take sides in the war.

“This is part of our economic recovery and it's important for us. Yes, we export our ammunition,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

Mr. Vucic stressed that Serbia cannot sell shells to Ukraine or Russia. But that doesn’t stop Belgrade from trading with its Western allies:

“We have many contracts with the Americans, the Spanish, the Czechs and others. What they do with them in the end is their business. Even if I know where the munitions end up, it’s none of my business.

My job is to ensure the legality of the weapons we sell… I have to look after my people, and that’s all I can say. We have friends in Kiev and Moscow. They are our Slavic brothers.”

Serbia is not a member of NATO or the EU. At the same time, Serbs have a traditional sentimental attachment to Russia and are wary of the West.

(MH with FM/Source: Financial Times/Photo: Pixabay)