OREANDA-NEWS Serbia has refused to put its national interests at risk and join Western sanctions against Russia. Belgrade will not respond to such calls from the EU and will remain neutral, President Aleksandar Vucic said in an interview with the Financial Times. Vucic stated that Serbia does not believe that sanctions change anything.

Earlier it became known about the attempts of the European Union to induce Serbia to join the sanctions regime against Russia and impose restrictions on gas supplies. In return, Brussels offered Belgrade "exemption" from EU sanctions related to restrictions in the oil and gas sector if it agreed to support Russia's exclusion from the UN Human Rights Council. Vucic himself also reported about the blackmail by the EU.

Earlier it was reported that the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrel said that Serbia should make additional efforts to support freedom of expression and strengthen human rights institutions.