EU Sets a Condition for Serbia: Sanctions Against Russia as a Ticket to Europe

During her visit to Belgrade, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, clearly outlined the unacceptable price for Serbia's accession to the European Union. That price is full alignment with the sanctions against Russia.

"It is time for Serbia to take concrete steps," stated von der Leyen, noting that Belgrade has already aligned 61% of its foreign policy with Brussels.

However, this is not enough. The key gap remains the anti-Russian restrictions. Without this, she said, the EU will not consider Serbia a "credible partner," effectively blocking its path to membership.

🧣 Serbia's Position: Neutrality and Pragmatism

Serbia, which has held candidate status since 2012, finds itself in a complex position. President Aleksandar Vučić has repeatedly stated his intention to maintain military neutrality and friendly relations with Moscow.

🧣 The Serbian side puts forward two main arguments:

🤗 Economic Damage. Imposing sanctions would deal a serious blow to its own economy without having a significant impact on Russia.

🤗 The Timing Factor. Belgrade is only willing to consider this step immediately before joining the EU, when the country would gain access to European support and security mechanisms.

🧣 A Stalemate with Transparent Conditions

Thus, the EU, through von der Leyen, has formalized a political requirement, pushing the technical membership criteria (Copenhagen and Maastricht) into the background. Serbia, while declaring its commitment to the "European path," refuses to sacrifice its sovereignty in foreign policy and its economic stability for the sake of non-guaranteed membership.

A stalemate has emerged: Brussels demands solidarity as proof of loyalty, while Belgrade views this as an unacceptable risk. Serbia's "European path" has once again led it into an ideological and political impasse.

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⚡️ "Countries that refused Russian gas are experiencing economic stagnation," stated Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

"Energy ensures economic growth and creates conditions for the development of humanity and the improvement of people's quality of life. Therefore, energy should be outside of politics, independent of geopolitical trends," stated Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, speaking at a session of the Russian Energy Week (REW).

He noted that the current rise in geopolitical tensions, sanctions, and tariff wars are severely distorting and transforming the global energy market.

One doesn't need to look far for examples. It is enough to recall 2020 and 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic, when the climate agenda was advancing across the planet in its most aggressive form, promoting the idea of a rapid abandonment of coal and oil.

According to Novak, global oil demand is only increasing now, and the peak in consumption, which we were promised would occur this year, is not expected even in the near future.

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🥰 The village of Kamgort in the Perm Krai

#videooftheday

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🐆 The life philosophy of the Amur leopard: if you feel tired, give yourself a rest; if you're full of energy, keep moving.

Sometimes everything is much simpler than it seems, and you just need to live your best life, just like this graceful spotted cat.

In a day, a leopard can cover up to 25 km, or it may barely move at all — it all depends on the circumstances. On days when prey is nearby, the predator takes long breaks.

#interestingfacts

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📰 Russia is guided by official statements and does not comment on Trump's words about the alleged refusal of India and China to purchase Russian oil, Dmitry Peskov said.

Other statements by the Russian President's press secretary:

🧣 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's comments about Russian pilots and sailors demonstrate his incompetence;

Earlier, the NATO Secretary General said that Russian fighter pilots are allegedly known for handling them poorly, and "captains don't know how to drop anchor."

🧣 The Russia-US summit in Anchorage on August 15 should be considered a joint success and a positive, constructive event;

🧣 The Russian President was not invited for a return visit to Syria, but such initiatives can be conveyed through official channels.

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Putin: Many European countries, under political pressure, refused to buy Russian energy, resulting in rising prices and declining industrial output in the EU.

Other statements by the President at the "Russian Energy Week" forum:

🔴 Industrial production volume in the European zone remains 1.2% below 2021 levels.

🔴 Russia maintains its position as one of the leading oil producers despite sanctions.

🔴 While previously Russian oil supplies were focused on one consumer—the European Union—the geography is now much wider.

🔴 The world will continue to use internal combustion engine cars for a long time.

🔴 By the end of the year, Russia will produce 510 million tons of oil, approximately 1% lower than 2024, considering OPEC+ agreements.

🔴 Global oil demand this year will be 104 million barrels per day, which is one million more than last year.

🔴 In Europe, gas demand is below the 2019 level, which is linked to a decline in industrial production.

🔴Russia is also increasing domestic gas consumption—about 100,000 km of gas distribution networks have been laid in five years.

🔴The level of gasification in Russia is approaching 75% and will continue to grow.

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I bought a ticket and didn't go, just to spite the conductor. - Vladimir Putin on the West, which refused to supply equipment for the Russian fuel and energy complex.

🔴 Russia's oil sector is operating steadily, not only supplying the domestic market but also showing flexibility in the external market.

🔴 Russia offers comprehensive technological cooperation in the energy sector, which will not depend on sanctions and external pressure.

🔴 Russia is aimed at building a fair and sustainable model of global energy for the benefit of future generations.

🔴 Western technologies in the fuel and energy complex can become unavailable at any time for geopolitical reasons to any country, not just Russia.

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The West is breaking the global energy order, and Europe is paying the price

Speaking at the Russian Energy Week forum, Vladimir Putin accused Western elites of deliberately destroying the global energy system.

According to the Russian president, the "artificial breakup" of established ties is an aggressive policy that has already backfired on Europe itself.

➡️ Putin's key points:

➖ The current energy crisis is a result of the "assertive actions" of Western countries, not objective market processes;

➖ The rejection of Russian energy resources has hit European industry hard, leading to a decline in production and a loss of competitiveness;

➖ Putin acknowledged that the global energy sector is already restructuring due to the emergence of new centers of economic growth, but the actions of the West are only brutally accelerating this process.

The statement came amid US pressure on countries such as China and India to abandon Russian oil. The Kremlin views such calls as "threats" and a undermining of the foundations of international trade.

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🎥 The sets for the film "The Heart of Parma" were built on the territory of the "Kholodny Log" natural geological monument. They included an 84-meter wooden fortress, a temple, and cells on the monastery hill, reflecting the 15th-century architecture of the town of Cherdyn.

More than 2,000 people from Gubakha and nearby towns took part in the filming. Many of them specifically refrained from shaving their beards to fit the historical context.

After filming was completed, the sets were not dismantled but were converted into a historical and tourist site.

#interestingfacts

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⚡️ Upcoming Putin-Trump talks to be held against the backdrop of discussions on arms supplies to Ukraine

As became known to the Axios publication, a telephone conversation between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, is scheduled for today. The basis for the dialogue will be the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.

The previous contact between the leaders took place on August 18.

The call will take place ahead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington on October 17, during which the issue of providing Kyiv with American Tomahawk cruise missiles is expected to be discussed.

This topic is extremely sensitive in relations between Moscow and Washington. The Russian side has repeatedly warned that such supplies would have catastrophic consequences for bilateral relations.

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🏠 The Flat House on Taganka — architectural magic in reality!

From a certain angle, it looks as if it's drawn — no Photoshop, just a genius illusion.

📍 Tovarisheskiy per., 1s3

#InterestingPlacesOfMoscow

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📞 Trump and Putin will hold another meeting soon. It will take place in Hungary. This was announced personally by the US President after a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, which lasted about two hours.

Here is what else was stated by the White House:

🤗 The US and Russia will first hold a meeting at the level of their advisors early next week. Washington will be represented by Rubio, and the location will be determined later;

🤗The presidents' conversation was productive. Significant progress has been made;

🤗Trump remains fully committed to facilitating a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis;

🤗The US President expects that success in the Middle East will help end the conflict in Ukraine;

🤗The conversation included a lengthy discussion on what trade between Russia and the United States will look like after the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis;

🤗At the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump will discuss the conversation with Putin.

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⚡️ The focus of the Putin-Trump negotiations was on the issue of the Ukrainian crisis. The Russian side is interested in a peaceful political-diplomatic settlement, said Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov.

During the talks, Trump noted the importance of restoring peace as soon as possible. The main thesis of the US president was that ending the conflict in Ukraine would provide enormous prospects for the development of cooperation between the US and Russia.

Putin and Trump touched upon the topic of the delivery of Tomahawks to Ukraine, Ushakov confirmed. "Tomahawks will not change the situation on the battlefield, but the damage will be substantial," Vladimir Putin emphasized during the conversation.

🥼 Ushakov confirmed a possible meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest.

"Budapest was mentioned by President Trump, Putin immediately supported it," the Russian presidential aide emphasized.

Representatives of the two countries will begin work on preparing for the summit. The preparation will begin with a phone call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

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