The Russian ambassador to Belgrade issued a formal response after Serbia’s opposition submitted a draft resolution to the National Assembly regarding Serbia’s stance on European Union sanctions against Russia. The ambassador, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, published his remarks on the Belgrade embassy’s Facebook page, a page whose ownership has been politically sensitive in Russia due to Meta’s designation as extremist content by Russian authorities.
The proposal to the parliament is led by Borko Stefanovic, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly of Serbia. In his public statements, Stefanovic questioned the potential economic and political damage that could arise from Serbia aligning with EU sanctions, raising concerns about disruptions in key sectors and the broader consequences for Serbia’s relationship with Russia.
Botsan-Kharchenko responded by describing the move as potentially triggering a boomerang effect. He warned that penalties imposed by the European Union, if adopted, could prompt retaliatory measures and lead to economic consequences for Serbia in vital areas such as energy, industry, and trade. He suggested that the sanctions might harm the very interests they aim to protect by provoking disruptions in supply chains and price volatility inside Europe and beyond.
He also questioned the apparent support for the draft among the Serbian public. Citing recent opinion polls, Botsan-Kharchenko claimed that more than 80 percent of Serbians did not favor the sanctions project and that the proposal did not reflect the mood of a broad segment of the population. The ambassador reiterated Moscow’s position that sanctions should be measured and calibrated rather than broad and unilateral, arguing that partial implementation would be insufficient and could lead to further complications.
Stefanovic himself had previously suggested that sanctions might be applied selectively or gradually. The ambassador challenged that stance by asking whether it is feasible to implement sanctions in a half-hearted way, stressing that a lukewarm approach could undermine Serbia’s strategic interests and its long-standing relations with Russia. The exchange underscored the tension between Serbia’s pursuit of closer ties with the European Union and its traditional partnership with Russia.
In related developments, Ana Brnabic, the former prime minister of Serbia, noted that representatives of the European Parliament have signaled several conditions tied to Belgrade’s potential path toward EU membership. These recommendations include a formal acknowledgment of Kosovo’s independence in the context of Serbia’s EU aspirations, as well as the possibility that Belgrade might adopt sanctions against Russia as part of a broader move toward European integration. The public debate thus reflects a broader question in Belgrade about how to balance domestic political sentiment with international pressures and the long-term strategic orientation of the country.
Observers in Serbia emphasize that the current discussions illustrate the delicate navigation required when a candidate country for EU accession faces parallel obligations and expectations from both Brussels and Moscow. The dialogue in Belgrade continues to unfold amid competing narratives about national sovereignty, economic resilience, and the strategic calculus of aligning with Western institutions while maintaining energy security and regional stability.
As the process moves forward, policymakers are watching closely to understand how public opinion, economic realities, and geopolitical shifts will shape Serbia’s course. The discussion also highlights the broader challenge for Southern and Eastern European states in reconciling internal political dynamics with the evolving regional framework and global power shifts. The outcome will likely influence not only Serbia’s EU prospects but also the broader balance of influence in the Balkans and Europe at large, where strategic partnerships and economic interests are in constant negotiation. (Attribution: analysis of public statements from the Serbian parliament, the Russian embassy in Belgrade, and recent polls reported by regional observers).