

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the UN General Assembly in September. Photo: EPA-EFE/JASON SZENES

On Monday evening at the UN General Assembly in New York, Serbia voted against the resolution calling on the Russian Federation, “as the occupying power”, to withdraw its military forces from Crimea and to end its temporary occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Serbia was the only Balkan country to vote against the resolution, with the others voting in favour, apart from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which abstained. It was adopted with 63 countries voting in favour and 19 against.

The resolution, entitled “Problem of the militarisation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov” also calls on Russia to return all equipment and weapons to Ukraine that were taken from three ships seized by Moscow’s forces which were later returned.

It further condemns visits by Russian officials to Crimea.

This is not the first time Serbia has been the only Balkan country to stand by Russia at the UN.

In December 2017, Belgrade backed Moscow over a UN General Assembly resolution put forward by Ukraine which condemned the human rights situation in Russian-annexed Crimea.

Russia and Serbia historically have warm relations, based on Slavic ethnic ties and common fealty to the Orthodox Church.

Most Serbs view Moscow as one of their biggest international allies, especially in the battle to prevent international recognition of the independence of the former province of Kosovo.

Russia has regularly condemned Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, and has since voted against the membership of Kosovo in international institutions in line with Belgrade’s policies.

In turn, Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia for its perceived role in fomenting the conflict in Ukraine, despite numerous calls from Brussels reminding Serbia that – as an EU candidate country – it needs to align its foreign policy with that of the EU.

“There is no document that Russia would vote for if it were against Serbia’s interests, just as Serbia did not and would not vote against Russia’s interests,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Sochi on December 4.