Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit Serbia on June 7

Photo: Tanjug/AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Belgrade on June 7.

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Lavrov will have a series of meetings with the Serbian state leadership, and it is expected that during the meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic, all key topics will be on the table, from the events in Ukraine and Serbia's position towards this crisis, through the situation in the region, to economic cooperation in light of Western sanctions against Russia, Novosti is reporting.

This will the first visit of a high-ranking Russian official to Serbia since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, and it comes at a time when the European Union is preparing the toughest package of sanctions yet. Ours is the only country in Europe that has not joined anti-Russia sanctions so far, and because of which Serbia is suffering enormous pressure.

Lavrov's arrival will be an opportunity to further clarify Moscow's position on Kosovo and Metohija, given recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, who compared the situation in Donbass with the southern Serbian province.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will certainly be a topic, that is, pressure exerted on the Serb Republic (RS, Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina). Lavrov reportedly planned to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, but he will not be able to do that considering that Sarajevo recently joined EU sanctions against Moscow, a move that the leadership of the Serb Republic distanced itself from, stating that the decision was made illegally.

Minister Lavrov should also attend a reception on the occasion of Russia Day, which will be organized by the Russian Embassy in Belgrade on June 7.

In the coming period, it is expected that officials from the West will also be visiting Belgrade.

(Telegraf.rs)