"Moscow-Belgrade 'love' is not unconditional"/ Swiss public service analysis of Serbian-Russian relations: Vucic spread pro-Putin sentiments, while now...

"Relations between Serbia and Russia are not unconditional love at all", this is how the Swiss public service SRF started the analysis.

According to them, there are signs that show that Moscow is no longer supporting Belgrade so strongly, but that such a thing cannot happen overnight.

"Recently, it was learned that Serbian-made rockets end up in the arsenal of the Ukrainian army," recalls the Swiss public service.

Official Belgrade replied that the ammunition was exported to Turkey and that Serbia has nothing to do with further resale through Slovakia to Ukraine. And yet the case created resentment in Moscow.

"They didn't sell the material directly to Ukraine, but they didn't make sure it didn't end up there," says Armina Galijas, an expert on the Balkans from the University of Graz.

According to her, relations between Serbia and Russia are more pragmatic.

"They are somewhat cautious and never open. It's not unconditional love," she said.

According to the analysis, Serbian love for Russia has been staged in recent years as "Slavic and Orthodox brotherhood", an image that was pushed by the media and politicians in Belgrade, along with anti-Western attitudes.

"Such an attitude is also seen in the polls in which the majority of Serbs blame NATO for the war in Ukraine. However, Serbia does not support Russia unconditionally. The country has repeatedly condemned the war in Ukraine and emphasized that it does not recognize Russian annexations," the analysis says.

According to Armina Galijash, the war is going against the interests of Serbia.

"Firstly because geopolitically they are changing a lot. The time has come to take clear positions," she said.

SRF points out that it has become increasingly difficult to switch from East to West, which was a central element of Serbian foreign policy in recent years.

The Swiss media shows indications that Serbia may leave Russia.

"President Vu?i? complained about Russian influence in the country and confirmed that Serbia is on its way to the EU," said Galijas. She however added that although the separation between the two countries may happen, it cannot be expected to be immediate. Not only because Serbia is dependent on Russian gas, but also because Russia enjoys great sympathy among the Serbian population. Vucic also played a big role in this.

"It was Vucic who created the pro-Putin and pro-Russian attitudes in the country. Now he should be the one who will find the right way to get out of such a situation", concludes the analysis.