Serbia’s Vucic to Skip BRICS Summit Despite Putin Invite
- Russian leader hosts an annual meeting in Kazan this week
- Vucic cites a schedule clash with a visit by some EU officials
Aleksandar Vucic
Photographer: Oliver Bunic/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic says he won’t attend an annual BRICS summit this week as the Balkan country tries to balance its ties with Russia with efforts to join the European Union and to improve relations with US.
Citing a schedule clash with a visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Polish Premier Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Belgrade, Vucic said he asked Vladimir Putin for understanding that he won’t attend the summit in person.