Serbia ready to sell large quantities of ammunition to EU even if it is then passed on to Ukraine

He said this in an interview with the German political magazine Cicero, Ukrinform reports.

"Our depots are full of ammunition, and we are producing more, especially mortar shells. We produce more ammunition than France. […] Ammunition is needed in Europe. So I have offered our friends in the EU the opportunity to conclude a purchase agreement with us and take everything we have. That would be a phenomenal contribution we can make to European security," Vucic said.

When asked whether that ammunition could later be used in Ukraine, he replied that "buyers can do whatever they want with it," and added that the EU has not yet responded to his offer.

At the same time, the politician stressed that Serbia is militarily neutral, condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine, and has provided the most financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine of all the Balkan countries. He recalled that people who established training camps to prepare pro-Russian forces for post-election unrest in Moldova were arrested in Serbia, and that arrests have been made of those who committed illegal acts in Europe.

He said that since Russia's attack on Ukraine he has not met with Vladimir Putin for three years and three months, whereas before the war he used to meet the Russian leader at least three times a year. Vucic said that it is harder for his country than for others to cut ties with Moscow because of heavy energy dependence and other reasons, including that many Serbs consider it important to maintain strategic ties with Russia. He does not understand why "good relations with Russia should block" Serbia's path to the EU. He believes his country will become a member of the European Union within the next eight years.

Vucic has been president of Serbia since 2014.

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