Serbia turns blind eye to its ammunition ending up in Ukraine
Article by Financial Times
WORLD 23 June 2024 - 11:09
Serbia has been discreetly stepping up sales of ammunition to the west.
It ends up bolstering the defence of Ukraine — even though it is one of only two European countries not to join western sanctions against Russia, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.
Estimates shared with the Financial Times put Serbia’s ammunition exports that have come to Ukraine via third parties at about 800 million euros ($855 million) — a sum President Aleksandar Vučić indicated was broadly accurate — since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He presented the situation as a business opportunity, insisting he would not take sides in the war.
“This is a part of our economic revival and important for us. Yes, we do export our ammunition,” he said in an interview. “We cannot export to Ukraine or to Russia but we have had many contracts with Americans, Spaniards, Czechs, others. What they do with that in the end is their job.”
Serbia is neither a member of Nato nor the EU, and its people have long had a sentimental attachment to Russia while resenting the west after Nato’s bombing campaign on their country in 1999.
Belgrade also counts on Moscow to block international recognition of Kosovo, the former Serbian province recognised by most western states, but which is held back from UN membership by Russia and China.
Vučić has resisted western pressure to adopt the Russia sanctions regime and has allowed Russian flights to continue, even as he says he is committed to his country becoming an EU member.
He has also sought to hedge his bets and keep a distance between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Why does Russia want to recognize the Taliban government? Graveyard of empires
25 June 2024 - 12:36
|
2
|
Strategic impasse in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process Tensions highlight need for a peace deal
25 June 2024 - 17:40
|
3
|
Will Israel go for a full-scale war in Lebanon? Destroying red lines
27 June 2024 - 14:25
|
4
|
Azerbaijan embraces carbon credits A new era in climate action
25 June 2024 - 14:20
|
5
|
Baku-Yerevan peace impossible without changing Armenian constitution Russian expert analyses
25 June 2024 - 16:28
|
Iran holding presidential election
28 June 2024 - 09:09
Azerbaijan’s Lachin welcomes 21 more families under Great Return project
PHOTO28 June 2024 - 09:00
Oil inches up on Middle East tensions despite US demand worries
28 June 2024 - 07:04
Russian energy giant signs memo with Iran on gas supplies
28 June 2024 - 05:04
New plant absorbs CO2 99,000 times faster than Earth's oceans
28 June 2024 - 03:04
US banker-lawyer team nets billions from bold natural gas gamble
28 June 2024 - 01:03
Photovoltaic ceramic boosts power 1000x over traditional solar panels
Enjoy free electricity at home!27 June 2024 - 23:02
NATO to offer Ukraine long-term military support
Amidst membership aspirations27 June 2024 - 21:18
Armenia rejects signing CSTO 2024 budget
Claims no financial obligations27 June 2024 - 21:12
Baku launches COP29 Information Center to raise climate awareness
PHOTO27 June 2024 - 20:58
Turkish President advocates Russia's inclusion in Ukraine conflict resolution talks
27 June 2024 - 20:51
Azerbaijan’s defence minister visits Hungary for official talks
27 June 2024 - 20:43
Azerbaijan’s FM, Georgian premier mull bilateral cooperation
27 June 2024 - 20:28
Hungarian PM denounces EU top job deals as "coalition of lies"
27 June 2024 - 20:13
SOCAR, bp explore joint training initiatives for personnel development
27 June 2024 - 19:58
COP29 has ambitious climate action goals, says UNEP chief
27 June 2024 - 19:42
Israeli drone strike eliminates Hezbollah commander near Lebanese border
27 June 2024 - 19:26
EDB ready to invest about $500 million in Armenia
27 June 2024 - 19:11
Azerbaijan, Georgia mull strategic partnership, COP29 preparations
PHOTO27 June 2024 - 18:57
Ukraine, EU ink security agreement
27 June 2024 - 18:44
Azerbaijan, China discuss introduction of energy storage systems
27 June 2024 - 18:30
Gaza Strip death toll approaches 38,000
27 June 2024 - 18:16
Armenia notifies Latvia of intent to exit Russian-led CSTO
27 June 2024 - 18:02
A victory marred by compromise
Assange's legal Odyssey ends27 June 2024 - 17:49
Russia eyes economic, security cooperation with Taliban
From pariah to partner/VIDEO27 June 2024 - 17:36
Zelenskyy to sign EU-Ukraine security agreement in Brussels
27 June 2024 - 17:23
Armenian myths collapse, Azerbaijani realities triumph
Futile hope for revenge27 June 2024 - 17:11
Zelenskyy urges swift end to conflict amid rising casualties
27 June 2024 - 16:59
Moscow says Russia ready for honest dialogue with West
27 June 2024 - 16:46
South Korea to impose sanctions on Russian ships, North Korean individuals
27 June 2024 - 16:34
Azerbaijan, UNEP to launch joint projects on environmental protection
27 June 2024 - 16:22
Biden administration faces diplomatic hurdle amid Israel-Hezbollah border clashes
27 June 2024 - 16:10
Georgia, Azerbaijan bring cooperation to new level
27 June 2024 - 15:57
Georgia to spare no effort for Baku-Yerevan peace, PM vows
27 June 2024 - 15:46
Azerbaijan questions US commitment to regional stability
Aid to Armenia undermines peace efforts27 June 2024 - 15:45
NATO to launch new structures to coordinate aid to Ukraine
27 June 2024 - 15:33
Azerbaijan develops regional strategy for modern waste management in Karabakh
27 June 2024 - 15:20
Azerbaijan prepares infrastructure, transportation restrictions
Ahead of COP2927 June 2024 - 15:08
Parliament speaker says Armenia wants to become EU member
27 June 2024 - 14:55
Azerbaijani FM: Armenia receives another package of peace proposals
27 June 2024 - 14:50