Serbia to face unprecedented political pressure after Putin’s decision: Vucic

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Serbia will face unprecedented political pressure following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, President Aleksandar Vucic said Monday.

In an interview with Serbia's Pink TV, Vucic said he was worried and Serbia's position is not easy.

''There are now many challenges of a political, security and economic nature. Political pressures will be greater than ever. Only in the last three days what I have experienced confirms my words. I have gone through various kinds of pressures, but what I experienced in the previous three days and what follows will simply not be easy at all," he said.

Vucic said that after Putin's signing of the decree on the recognition of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics, the security architecture of the world is collapsing.

"I think that the world order is changing in this way," he said.

He said Serbia's commitment to peace must be strong and the deterrent force even stronger.

"No one can predict how someone will behave. As far as we are concerned, our commitment to peace must be firm. As commander-in-chief, I have issued an order at all times to be prepared in the best possible way. In the political sense, we have to work a lot. Peace is no longer something that is implicit. That is why we have to work hard to ensure security," said Vucic.

He added that he issued an order to the army and a request to the police to be prepared in the best way at all times, to continue investing in equipment and weapons.

Vucic cited the jump in the price of oil as an economic aspect of the challenge.