Serbia refuses to support sanctions against Russia
Serbia does not intend to join the list of countries imposing sanctions against Russia, the Permanent Representative of Serbia to the UN stated. This comment was made in response to the EU's call to all states to consider the possibility of imposing sanctions against Moscow on the second anniversary of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.
The First Counselor of the Permanent Mission, Ana Ilic, noted that the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia said that Belgrade will never impose sanctions against Russia. "Our position has not changed," Ilic told TASS.
On the 18th of March, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, stated that the EU will continue implementing the "policy of non-recognition" of Crimea as a part of Russia, "including through restrictive measures." She urged Member States of the UN to consider adopting similar policies, referring to the General Assembly Resolution of March 27, 2014.
The internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in March of 2014 in the wake of the Ukrainian revolution. The Kremlin has faced international condemnation for its annexation of the Peninsula, leading many western countries to impose economic sanctions against Russia. In the United Nations, only Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Syria recognize Crimea as a legitimate federal subject of Russia.