Vucic: Nova report a complete lie, Serbia has very fair relations with Russia

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has dismissed as untrue a report by the Nova paper titled "Grushko leaves Serbia quickly, Putin refuses to answer Vucic's call", noting that it is a "complete lie" and that Serbia maintains very fair relations with Russia.

"I would like to inform the citizens that we have very fair relations with the Russian Federation and that I have not tried, not once, to speak with Putin, but I find it interesting how those who swear by the so-called European values become the biggest Russophiles in less than 24 hours when it comes to attacking the Serbian government. So much for principles. I am asking them, and I am expecting an answer: When and through whom have I expressed a desire to speak with the Russian president? Since I know that did not happen, I am hoping for a small apology. Not to me, but to the citizens they have deceived," Vucic wrote in a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account.

"Whenever President Putin expressed a desire that we speak and meet, my answer was positive. Whenever I expressed a desire to speak with President Putin, his answer was positive," Vucic also wrote.

In the front-page report, published on Friday, Nova says the relations between Belgrade and Moscow have deteriorated and that Russian Deputy FM Alexander Grushko quickly left Serbia after a recent visit to Belgrade as well as that Vucic allegedly made three phone calls to Putin during the visit but that the Russian president refused to answer.