Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit despite advice given to EU candidate countries to refrain from such contacts. Vulin met with Putin at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 24, the Serbian government said in a press release. Vulin also spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and the presidents of Egypt and Venezuela on the sidelines of the summit, the government said without specifying the topics of the conversations. Vulin attended the summit representing President Aleksandar Vucic, who despite a personal invitation from Putin declined to go to Russia. EU spokesman Peter Stano on October 23 said that all EU candidate countries "are expected to refrain from contacts with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin." Serbia also has not joined EU sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine even though it is a candidate for EU membership. To read the full story by RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, click here.
Vulin Defies EU Advice, Meets With Putin At BRICS Summit
Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 24 at the BRICS summit in Kazan.