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| Vucic in Moscow in a meeting with Putin (archive) |
He made the remarks after meeting with the Russian president in Moscow, where he is also attending a parade marking the anniversary of the end of World War II.
After a face-to-face meeting with President Putin, the Serbian president said he had received "good advice and analysis" during talks on ways to resolve the Kosovo issue. And if I may say so, Putin cleverly presented his views while respecting Serbia's positions. "Russia respects Serbia and there is no doubt about that," he said, without elaborating on what the Russian president's advice was.
"Putin is very prudent and big enough to say something directly, but can he give wisely instructions? There is no doubt about that," he said.
Russia, a longtime ally of Serbia, has repeatedly stated that it will support any solution that is acceptable to Belgrade and that will receive the blessing of the United Nations Security Council.
The Serbian president's visit to Moscow comes on the eve of Saturday's meeting between Kosovo and Serbia at the White House, mediated by Ambassador Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump's special envoy. At the same time, the European Union is working to resume talks mediated by him, and July is expected to be a period of talks.
Authorities in Kosovo expect the US initiative to resume talks to lead to mutual recognition.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic claims that Belgrade intends to continue to maintain balance in its relations with the West on the one hand and Russia and China on the other, while aiming for an agreement with Kosovo, which is a condition for membership in the European Union.
Last Thursday, he said after a meeting in Belgrade with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that he would reject membership in the European Union if Belgrade did not gain more in exchange for recognizing Kosovo and removing obstacles to its membership in the United Nations..