Serbian President to meet with Putin in China: Americans are unlikely to be happy
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the second negotiations this year with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which are to take place in April in Beijing during the Belt and Road forum.
The issue was discussed today at a meeting between Vučić and the Russian Ambassador to Belgrade, Alexander Chepurin, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Vucic, he will be glad to meet with Putin. The negotiations are expected to touch upon cooperation between Moscow and Belgrade, as well as the situation in the Balkans, in particular, the ongoing conflict around the illegally seized region of Kosovo from Serbia.
Vucic stressed that continuing the dialogue with the separatist authorities in Pristina is impossible until the self-proclaimed ruling regime in Kosovo abolishes the tax on Serbian goods. Recently, they have been subject to a 100% duty; as a result, the Serbian enclaves in Kosovo have found themselves under a virtual blockade.
The Albanian side, supported by the United States, demands recognition of Kosovo's independence in exchange for the abolition of the duty, which is categorically unacceptable for Belgrade.
It is expected that another topic of dialogue between the Russian Federation and Serbia will be the future of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, the construction of which the United States and its satellites are trying to disrupt. Previously, Russian TV presenter Maxim Shevchenko linked the intensification of opposition street protests in Serbia with this issue.
The upcoming negotiations between Vučić and Putin will be their 16th meeting as presidents, the press service of the Serbian head of state clarified.
Vucic and Cepurin also agreed on a schedule for meetings of other Serbian and Russian officials.
Serbian President to Meet Putin in China: Americans Unlikely to Be Happy