Vucic: I have spoken with Putin about alleged Serbian ammo exports to Ukraine

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening he had discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin allegations that Serbia was exporting ammunition to Ukraine via intermediate countries, and that a Serbian-Russian inter-government working group had been set up to examine the allegations.

"I have spoken about this with President Putin in the presence of several people from both delegations, and I have spoken about this with President Putin behind close doors. I would not disclose details of our discussion," Vucic said on RTS, commenting on a report from Moscow according to which Serbia was still exporting ammunition to Ukraine via intermediate countries.

In case of suspected misuses by end-users, contracts will be terminated, as has been the case with Jugoimport, Vucic added.

"We have set up a working group here with our Russian partners to establish the facts. Some of the things in the report are not true. For example, they are correct in saying that there is an end-user contract with the Czech Republic - I am chiefly referring to the Jugoimport contract, that is the largest contract - but no licences have been issued," Vucic said.

He said there had also been reports about alleged Serbian arms exports to Ukraine via an African country, and noted that Serbia was no longer exporting arms, but only ammunition.

Serbia is under fire because it is an independent country on the EU path, Vucic said, adding that Belgrade had no information of any Serbian ammunition having reached Ukraine via Africa.

"Last week, I was verbally attacked by two ambassadors who said we have exported ammunition to the Russian Federation through a Turkish company and that Serbian-made ammunition has appeared on the Russian side of the front. I had to explain to them that I really do not know what contract they are talking about - nor it is possible for me to know everything - but you know, our factories need to live and work," Vucic noted.