Vucic: Turkey and other powerful countries are actively working toward Kosovo’s independence, Serbia will respond decisively

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated that the international community has done nothing over the past 12 years to compel Pristina to implement the Brussels Agreement it signed, but that this only strengthens Serbia’s determination to preserve its territorial integrity in the face of powerful adversaries such as Turkey and other countries actively working to promote Kosovo’s independence.

Speaking to domestic media at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, after participating in the panel discussion “Seizing the Moment: Building Lasting Partnerships in the Neighborhood”, Vucic emphasized that he consistently raises Serbia’s position and the situation of Serbs in Kosovo.

“That’s my job—to point out everything the government in Pristina is doing against the Serbs and our people throughout Kosovo and Metohija, especially in the north. To speak about the urgent need to implement the Brussels Agreement. But I know that if nothing has been done in 12 years to force Pristina to fulfill what it signed, I don’t believe anything will be done in the future either. That only strengthens our alternative position—our determination to defend our territorial integrity against powerful opponents like Turkey and other countries that are actively pushing for Kosovo’s recognition. But we will soon have surprises from two very different parts of the world on this issue, aimed at those partners advocating for recognition—and we will respond,” Vucic said.

The Serbian President also spoke about his discussions and meetings held during the summit in Prague.

“I spoke with many people, and as you heard on the public panel from former Chancellor Schallenberg and Miroslav Lajcák, they expressed clear support for the Republic of Serbia. I also spoke with Sebastian Kurz and many others. We tried to touch on Serbia’s progress in various ways. The main message is that Serbia wants to grow and will continue to work hard. I also expressed my gratitude and believe that our hosts will make a significant contribution to Expo 2027. Our goal is to attract as many investors as possible,” Vucic stated.

Addressing the recent Israeli attack on Iran, Vucic noted that the discussion also touched on oil prices in that context.

“God knows how high oil prices will go before this ends. Just when you think prices are dropping, something like this happens and drives them up again—affecting the cost of electricity and other goods. I’m afraid this will cause even more global economic instability and tension. I hope it ends as soon as possible. If this continues alongside the situation in Ukraine, we’re not getting closer to peace—we’re approaching the worst-case scenario. Everyone’s talking about Israel and Iran. Some admire Israel’s precision, others condemn it and fear Iran’s response and the involvement of other countries,” said Vucic.

When asked about international pressure on Serbia, respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity, and potential sanctions against Russia, Vucic said the prevailing narrative is always the same.

“China and Russia are the villains. A woman from Serbia, a Slovak, stood up and said all authoritarian regimes in the world must be stopped… What, is Slovakia supposed to stop China? I don’t understand that. Is Slovakia, Malta, or Luxembourg going to stop China? People, think about it. All of Europe can’t keep up with China. Europe’s growth is 0.8 percent, China’s is five. They’re on a motorcycle, we’re on bicycles. And now Europe has started walking, trying to catch up with the motorcycle… The world isn’t black and white, nor are things as simple as foreign media like to portray. We now live in a multipolar world dominated by multiple powers—with China becoming an increasingly prominent force. Donald Trump understands that well. He knows China is the main competitor to the U.S. Serbia is a small country and we know our place. We are on a European path, we have friendships with the U.S., China, and others—for as long as we are tolerated. Our job is to grow and develop,” Vucic concluded.