Why is Putin coming to Serbia, US ambassador asks
“It is not certain yet whether Putin (Russian president Vladimir) will visit Belgrade, but if this happen, why is he coming?”, United States ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby said, provoking huge media attention. Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic said on September 18 that Kirby’s remark was directed towards Russia rather than Serbia.
Putin will reportedly visit Belgrade in October to mark the 70th anniversary of Serbian capital’s liberation from Nazi Germany troops.
“You (Serbia) can have good relations with either Russia and China, but also with the US. But our position considering the visits of Chinese and Russian officials is nuanced. This is important. Chinese did not recently invade anyone, unlike the Russians. It is not certain yet whether Putin will come, but if this happen, why is he coming? To mark the anniversary of Belgrade’s liberation? But Belgrade was also freed by the Third Ukrainian Army, which was part of the Red Army. If Putin was invited, why then the others who participated in the liberation of Belgrade were not invited as well?, Kirby said in an interview with Vecernje Novostid daily.
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