BELGRADE, February 28. /TASS/. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that the West is cranking up unprecedented pressure on him following Serbia’s decision to refrain from imposing sanctions against Russia over the situation around Ukraine.
"These days are like a nightmare for me, [they are] some of the hardest days of my career. I am glad that people don’t see it. I shoulder the most enormous burden when negotiating with global officials, European officials, and all the criticism, all the claims, and all the pressure. I haven’t felt anything like this in the past ten years, not even in Brussels in 2013 when the situation was very, very difficult. That was nothing compared to what’s happening now. They can do nothing to someone who is stronger and bigger than we are, that is why they are bullying us - you can see the hysteria against our country," he said, adding that such behavior is typical of a man who is bullied at work, and then bullies his children at home.
"The situation is very difficult. I cannot remember anything of the kind. Each hour is like a year - I have grown ten year older in the past four days. But our country has its own position and we will stick to is as long as we can," he stressed.
In an address to the nation earlier, Vucic said that Serbia supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity but won’t impose sanctions against Russia. He also announced that Belgrade is suspending army and police drills with all foreign partners. He noted that Serbia considered Russia and Ukraine to be brotherly nations, regrets what is going on in Eastern Europe and is ready to offer humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.