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Putin comments on upcoming visit to Serbia

Putin is expected to visit Belgrade on January 17

© Oksana Toskic/TASS

MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. The Russian president’s upcoming visit to Serbia will strengthen the relationship between the two countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in New Year’s greetings to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday.

"I am convinced that our scheduled meeting in Belgrade will further cement our mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide range of fields," Vucic’s press service said citing the Russian president’s greetings.

Read also

Putin to visit Serbia in January — Kremlin

"I wish happiness, good health and success to you, your family and friends, and well-being and prosperity to the Serbian fraternal nation," says a message handed to the Serbian president by Russia’s Ambassador in Belgrade Alexander Chepurin.

Putin pointed out that the current relations with Serbia "are dynamically developing in the spirit of a strategic partnership."

Earlier, Vucic said that Putin would visit Belgrade on January 17. The leaders held their previous talks in Moscow on October 2, 2018. On Tuesday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin’s visit to Serbia had been in the works, but declined to announce the timeframe.

The Serbian media reported that 20 agreements were expected to be signed during the Russian president’s visit. Joint energy, infrastructure and innovative projects will be the focus of the visit.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov earlier said that an agreement on setting up a nuclear center in Serbia might be sealed during the visit.

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The president stressed that given the weapon’s special power, it "will be provided precisely to the Strategic Missile Forces"

Putin, Turkish president hold phone talks — Kremlin

The leaders also discussed some international issues

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise

"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments.", Peskov said

Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a precision strike on Ukraine’s Yuzhmash defense industry facility in retaliation for the use of US-and UK-made weapons for strikes on Russia

West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

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