Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Belgrade will not suffer from his visit to Moscow for the Victory Parade and talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and that he is ready to take on any “punishments“ from the European Union.
“I am here to fight for my people and my country. I don't care at all what anyone else in the world thinks or says. I was elected by the Serbian people, I was elected by the citizens of Serbia. I was not elected in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius or anywhere else," Vucic told journalists from Radio and Television Serbia from Red Square.
“Honour and pride are something that can neither be given nor sold to anyone. I made a promise to President Putin, but I have never lied to European leaders about my visit here“, said the Serbian leader, adding that he had openly announced to Europeans his plans to come to Moscow on May 9. - As for the European Union, I am confident that Serbia will remain on the European path. If they want to punish someone, let them punish me.“
The head of state also shared his plans for the coming days. “On Thursday, first, a meeting with Patriarch Kirill is expected. "This is a great honor and a great privilege for me," Vučić stressed, adding that he also expects to meet with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 8, and before the talks with Putin on May 9 - with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“With President Putin we will discuss all important issues of our bilateral relations - everything that we can jointly solve - gas, railways, dispatch centers, to all the topics that we have already discussed many times. And also about our political cooperation at the international level, because do not forget that Russia did not recognize the independence of Kosovo, unlike those who today would gladly step into the future according to the Robert Zemeckis script, trying not to look back at the past“, concluded Vučić.
The President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Moscow on the evening of May 8, and on May 10 he will talk with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
On May 9, he will be at the Victory Parade.
Abbas will discuss with Putin the situation in the Gaza Strip and bilateral relations. “The second point is how Russia helps to stop this war. And also about the relations between Russia and Palestine. We will thank Russia for the help: they sent us 30 thousand tons of grain as aid for the Palestinians. President Abbas officially announced that this gift from Russia will be given to our people in Gaza. They really need this product. We will make flour from this grain and send it to Gaza," said Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafez Nofal.