NIS, Serbia -- Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for "strengthening" the combat capability of the Balkan nation's armed forces.
Vucic made the comments on July 29 as he inspected the delivery of 10 recently arrived Russian armored patrol vehicles at a Serbian Army military base in Nis.
Speaking at the ceremony, Russia's Ambassador Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said that Moscow "is ready and will always be ready for military and technical cooperation with Serbia."
Russia has been helping its ally beef up its military, raising concerns that it could threaten peace in the Balkans.
The 10 BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles have been delivered to Serbia despite neighboring Romania's refusal to let them transit via the Danube River because of European Union sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
Romania is a member of both the EU and NATO. Serbia claims military neutrality despite close ties with Russia, and formally wants to join the EU.
"The most important thing for us is that we managed to transport the vehicles to Serbia," Vucic told journalists. "How and which way they came, that is our business."
The armored vehicles were flown to Serbia on Russian transport planes last week, using Hungarian air space, according to media reports.
The delivery was part of the promised supply of 30 second-hand T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 vehicles.
Last year, Serbia received six MiG-29 fighter jets from Russia.
Vucic Praises Putin For 'Strengthening' Serbia's Military
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
UEFA To Rule After Kosovar Players Walk Off In Romania Amid Claims Of 'Racist' Chants
2How Does Marco Rubio, Trump's Pick For Secretary Of State, See The World?
3Russian Forces Reportedly Start All-Out Assault On Key Ukrainian City Of Kupyansk
4Ukraine Live Briefing: 'Russia Attacks Sleeping Civilians'
5Putin Not Interested In Negotiations, Only In Ending His Own Isolation, Zelenskiy Says
6A Blood-Red Stripe: Russian Opposition's Anti-War Rally Shadowed In Advance By Controversy Over Flag
7How The Caspian Sea Became A Battlefield
8Peace Talks Brewing, Russia And Ukraine Jockey For Advantage -- On And Off The Battlefield
9Anti-War Russian Chef Found Dead In Belgrade
10In Bulgaria, A Secret Russian Consulate Is Unveiled
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
