BELGRADE (Reuters) -German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Serbia on Monday to align its foreign and security policies towards Russia with those of the European Union if it wants to join the bloc.
Serbia’s populist president Aleksandar Vucic is trying to balance the country’s candidacy for the European Union with its traditional ties with Russia and China.
Serbia is dependent on gas supplies from Russia and its sole oil refiner, Russia-owned NIS, is under U.S. sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is fighting a battle for freedom, not just for itself, but for all of Europe,” Wadephul said after meeting his Serbian counterpart Marko Djuric.
“We need a clear commitment of support from all states of the European Union itself, as well as from the accession countries.”
Serbia must prove it “is on a clear path towards the European Union,” including aligning with EU foreign and security policies, before joining the 27-nation bloc, he said.
Although Belgrade has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, it has condemned Moscow’s policies in the United Nations and other international forums.
(Reporting by Alexander Ratz; Writing by Ivana Sekularac and Aleksandar Vasovic, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
