MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the European Union’s preliminary conditions for Serbia’s membership as a "geopolitical exercise."

"Ankara seems to have decided that it won’t engage in a dead-end and useless business any longer, but Belgrade reiterates [its aspiration for EU membership]. Several days ago, they asked not to forget about them when <…> talks with Ukraine and Moldova begin. In response, they heard that first they should join the anti-Russian sanctions," he said in an interview with the Moscow.Kremlin.Putin program, fragments of which were released on journalist Pavel Zaburin’s Telegram channel.

"That’s all about the economic union as it was conceived when established, as it was advertised and why it attracted those willing to join it. Now, it is a purely ‘geopolitical exercise.’ They demand that Serbian President [Aleksandar] Vucic cede Kosovo and support the anti-Russian sanctions - they will consider [Servia’s bid] only in this case," he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier that the EU summit in December would discuss the European Commission’s recommendation on the beginning of talks on the admission of Ukraine and Moldova. In case of a positive decision, these talks may kick off in March 2024, she added.