BELGRADE, February 11. /TASS/. Serbia is currently literally between the hammer and the anvil in the context of goals pursued by Western countries and Russia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said during a Prva TV broadcast.
The head of state said that because of the upcoming elections in Europe and America in 2024, the West could not afford to lose and would try to win the conflict in Ukraine "one way or another" so that Russia "no longer has access to the Balkans, and Serbs do not create problems." Russia, too, in his view, cannot "have no influence [on the Balkans]." "In this position, our country will literally find itself between the hammer and the anvil, and I do not hide it," the Serbian leader said.
President Vucic earlier stressed that Russia's special military operation in Ukraine had put enormous pressure fon Serbia from the West. He also noted that the country was left without allies in the West precisely because of its principled rejection of the policy of anti-Russian sanctions.
After Russia launched its special military operation, Vucic said in an address to the nation that Serbia supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but would not impose sanctions against Russia. The president said that the country temporarily suspended army and police exercises with all foreign partners. He noted that Serbia considered Russia and Ukraine brother nations, regretted what was happening in eastern Europe, and was ready to provide humanitarian aid to Kiev.