Vucic expressed indifference about the EU's reaction to his visit to Moscow.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who flew to Moscow for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, stressed that he was indifferent to the reaction of Western countries to his visit to Russia. The Serbian leader stated this on May 7 in an interview with Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS).

"I don't care at all what anyone else in the world thinks or says. I was chosen by the Serbian people, I was elected by the citizens of Serbia. I am not elected either in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, or anywhere else," the politician said, stressing that he had not hidden from his European colleagues his intention to attend the Victory Day Parade.

Vucic also said that he had promised the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to take part in the Parade and did not plan to break this word, since honor and pride cannot be "given or sold to anyone."

He added that the Serbian president was responsible for all the consequences that European countries could prepare in response to his trip to Moscow, so they would not affect Belgrade.

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On May 6, it became known that the Lithuanian and Latvian authorities had banned Vucic's plane from crossing their airspace due to his intentions to visit Moscow to participate in events marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in turn, called the refusal of Lithuania and Latvia an egregious case. According to her, no one can destroy the strategic partnership and centuries-old friendship between Moscow and Belgrade.