Serbia abandoned military exercises with Belarus and Russia under the pressure of the EU • Newsru.com • RIMA

Serbia abandoned military exercises with Belarus and Russia under the pressure of the EU

Serbia decided to suspend all military exercises with partners for the next six months, explaining this to “terrible and undeserved” pressure from the European Union, according to the website of the country's Ministry of Defense.

“We are asked to abandon the planned military exercises with Belarus at the cost of abandoning our European future and at the cost of even greater pressure on our policy, as well as our people in Kosovo, Metokhia and the Republic of Serbian,” said the Minister of Defense of Serbia, Alexander Vulin.

According to him, the Serbian government made such a "painful" decision in order to maintain the position of military neutrality, as well as "avoid or at least reduce the consequences of strengthening attacks on our country, our policy and our economy."

Vulin said that Serbia would not participate in the exercises with NATO, with the CSTO, nor with Russia, nor with the USA, and with China, or with the European Union. “Our participation in peacekeeping operations will be specially examined and, if necessary, suspended,” added the Minister. The CSTO press secretary Vladimir Zaynetdinov informed TASS that the Serbian side did not notify the organization of the collection teachings of the “indestructible fraternity” that should be held this year.

In September, the annual Belarusian-Russian-Serbian tactical exercises "Slavic Brotherhood-2020" under the leadership of the commander of the special operations of the Armed Forces of Belarus are planned in Belarus. The country's Ministry of Defense reported that military personnel will work out joint actions of the units when performing tasks to combat terrorism.

The arrival of participants was planned for September 10-15. This year they were supposed to be held at the Brest 38th Separate Airborne School Brigade. It was expected that, taking into account the Serbian troops, one and a half thousand people will take part in them. Last year, the maneuvers took place in Serbia.