“The Serbian government proceeds from the fact that our position in relation to sanctions is based on international law and the interests of Serbia ... We also believe that this is a principled position, and we will defend it as long as possible,” she quotes TASS.

US President Joe Biden has previously called on his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic to join the fight against the Russian special operation in Ukraine.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called it rudeness.

Vučić said that Serbia would try to survive without imposing sanctions against Russia for as long as possible.

The Kremlin noted that they are well aware of the pressure Western countries are putting on Serbia to join the anti-Russian sanctions.