'The West thought Putin would be easily defeated, but that was not so. Trend is now for all out militarization' - Serbia's Vucic

TASS
Sat, 09 Mar 2024 21:40 UTC

FILE PHOTO: President Aleksandar Vucic

The Western countries are building up their military potential and pursuing a policy of total militarization in an attempt to defeat Russia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said.

"What is happening now is madness. They all thought that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would be easily defeated. Now they see that this is not so," Vucic said. "The current trend is toward total militarization and a five-fold build-up in all respects," he told the media while visiting the Belgrade Military Technical Institute and inspecting armaments on display.

The Serbian leader together with Defense Minister Milos Vucevic inspected new weapons of the Serbian Armed Forces. He noted the importance of increasing the production of UAVs and other weapons.

Earlier, Vucic stressed that under the current circumstances it should not be ruled out the West might send its soldiers to Ukraine and there was a risk of the conflict's escalation.

Comment: See also:

• Serbia's opposition takes to the streets claiming election fraud in parliamentary reelection of President Vucic
• Serbia: Tens of thousands march in Belgrade after mass shootings, President Vučić accuses opposition of 'abusing the tragedies'

• Serbia's President reveals West pressuring them to sanction Russia (May 2023)