{"id":49503,"date":"2025-05-29T15:21:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T19:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russa-blasts-slavic-ally-serbia-for-supplying-arms-to-ukraine\/29\/05\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T15:21:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T19:21:27","slug":"russa-blasts-slavic-ally-serbia-for-supplying-arms-to-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russa-blasts-slavic-ally-serbia-for-supplying-arms-to-ukraine\/29\/05\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Russa blasts Slavic ally Serbia for supplying arms to Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) \u2014 Russia on Thursday blasted Serbia for exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it\u2019s a stab in the back by its longtime Slavic Balkan ally.<\/p>\n

\u201cSerbian defense enterprises, contrary to the \u2018neutrality\u2019 declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv,\u201d said the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR, in a statement.<\/p>\n

The Serbian export of arms to Ukraine, mostly the Soviet-era-caliber ammunition still used by Ukraine\u2019s defense forces, has long been known and reported, but it\u2019s not clear why the Russian foreign security service decided to react now.<\/p>\n

There was no immediate reaction from the Serbian officials.<\/p>\n

Serbia\u2019s arms deliveries to Ukraine have been an open secret since early 2023, when the first leaks of the exports were published. Moscow then vowed to look into the matter.<\/p>\n

Although claiming he wants to take Serbia to the European Union, Serbian populist President Aleksandar Vucic<\/a> has maintained close relations with Russia. He defied EU warnings and attended Russia\u2019s Victory Day parade in Moscow<\/a> .<\/p>\n

Vucic\u2019s appearance<\/a> in Moscow for the May 9 parade was widely condemned in Brussels, with EU officials warning that such actions seriously jeopardize Serbia\u2019s EU path. The officials said that it was inappropriate for Vucic to stand side by side<\/a> with Russian President Vladimir Putin, considering Moscow\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Vucic has said his decision to attend Putin\u2019s military parade<\/a>, which marked the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, was part of efforts to maintain \u201ctraditional friendships\u201d \u2014 Russia is a fellow Slavic and Orthodox Christian nation \u2014 while seeking EU entry.<\/p>\n

Serbia, which relies almost fully on Russia for energy, has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and hasn\u2019t supported most EU statements condemning the aggression.<\/p>\n

Russia has until now remained silent about widespread reports that Serbia is supplying Ukrainian forces with ammunition and the Russian statement on Thursday came as a surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cA simple scheme using fake end-user certificates and intermediary countries serves as a cover for anti-Russian actions,\u201d the Russian SVR statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contribution of Serbian defense industry workers to the war unleashed by the West, the outcome of which Europe would like to see as a \u2018strategic defeat’ of Russia, amounts to hundreds of thousands of shells … as well as a million rounds of ammunition for small arms,” the statement said.<\/p>\n

“It is unlikely that such supplies can be justified by \u2018humanitarian considerations.\u2019 They have one obvious purpose \u2014 to kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population of Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems that the desire of Serbian defense industry workers and their patrons to profit from the blood of fraternal Slavic peoples has made them completely forget who their real friends are and who their enemies are,” the Russian statement said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Russia on Thursday blasted Serbia for exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it’s a stab in the back by