Many probably think Belarus is the only European country openly supporting Putin's aggression against Ukraine. But this is not the case. Here are some front pages of totally or partly pro-government Serbian newspapers today:
Informer (closely cooperating with the government, the editor-in-chief being a personal friend of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić): “The Americans push the world into chaos. Ukraine attacked Russia!”
Vecernje Novosti: "Bloodshed on the Russian border" (subtitles quote Putin & Russian propaganda claiming Ukrainian "saboteurs" trying to cross into Russia were “liquidated”.
Srpski Telegraf: "Putin sends army to connect Serbia and (Bosnian) Serb Republic" (allegedly this is Putins next target after Ukraine)
Kurir: “No hope? Putin: Russia did everything it could for peace in Ukraine.”
Alo: "The world on the brink of a huge disaster: Ukraine attacked Russia!"
Politika: "Defending independence and military neutrality" (story on how Serbia buys weapons from both East and West in order to continue the upgrade of the Serbian army)
Ad notam I This is nothing exceptional. It is an average day at Serbian newsstands. While there are serious papers as well, front pages of this kind are the rule in Serbia. Day after day, week after week, month after month, for years now.
II: All leaders of the region (Montenegro's President Djukanović, Croatia's Prime Minister Plenković, Romania's President Iohannis, etc.etc.) have unequivocally condemned Putin's policies. Serbian President Vučić has not.
III: Even though no one believes in it anymore: Officially, Serbia is a candidate for EU membership, just like 🇹🇷. Mr. Vučićs governing party SNS is a partner party of the European People’s Party EPP. It was a paramount goal of German CDU in the region to win SNS for the EPP.
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