Serbian Deputy PM Assures Putin That Russia Is An 'Ally'

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has offered assurances to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Belgrade is an "ally of Russia" as well as a strategic partner. During a meeting on the sidelines of an economic forum in Vladivostok on September 4, Vulin also said that Serbia would "never become a NATO member, will never impose sanctions on the Russian Federation, and will never allow any anti-Russian actions to be carried out from its territory." EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said on September 5, "Maintaining or even increasing the ties with Russia during the time of its illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people, is not compatible with EU values and is not compatible with the EU accession process." To read the original story by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, click here.