Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited Moscow on Wednesday, where he met with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and awarded him Serbia’s highest state decoration. The visit, coming amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, is expected to trigger criticism from the European Union, Vucic said.
Vucic and Kirill toured the Danilov Monastery, the administrative center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Following their meeting, Vucic presented the Order of the Republic of Serbia, First Class with Grand Collar, to the patriarch for his contributions to strengthening Serbian-Russian ties.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Vucic said he anticipated “harsh reactions” from EU officials due to his visit to Moscow, but insisted he would not remain silent and was prepared to bear any consequences personally. “If there is a price to pay, I will pay it, not Serbia,” he stated.
Vucic’s trip to Russia coincides with an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Warsaw, where he expects his visit to be discussed. The Serbian leader said he would soon engage in talks with European officials and emphasized that Serbia remains committed to its European path while maintaining its established foreign policy direction.
He reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling promises made to Russian President Vladimir Putin months ago, including attending the Victory Day Parade in Moscow. “A man is only as good as his word,” Vucic said.
Vucic, who has recently recovered from health issues, told reporters he felt well enough to engage in high-level discussions with global leaders. He is scheduled to hold meetings on Thursday with Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China. “In a single day, I will have long discussions with two of the three most important global delegations. That is not an easy task,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Vucic also announced a planned bilateral meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The two leaders are expected to discuss defense industry cooperation and investment opportunities in Serbia, including hotel construction and direct air links between Astana and Belgrade.
