State Dept welcomes Serbia's call for diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis

"We welcome Serbia's call for a diplomatic solution, and as President Biden said, Russia should choose diplomacy to avoid war between countries that are so historically and culturally close. The United States and NATO, as well as their partners, are working hard to find a diplomatic solution and remain open to constructive and serious diplomacy," the State Department told VOA.

It also underlined that "there is no equality in the behaviour of Ukraine and Russia and that Russia is an aggressor on Ukraine."

Official Belgrade has said on several occasions that Serbia is committed to a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

The Foreign Ministry (MSP) added that a possible conflict would harm Belgrade's foreign policy, "bearing in mind that both are two friendly and fraternal Slavic peoples," the VOA said.

The Ministry also said that Serbia was not a part of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In the previous conflicts between Russia and Ukraine since 2014, Serbia has taken different positions, VOA recalls.

After Russia annexed Crimea, Serbia did not recognise the peninsula as a part of Russia. But it did not join the EU economic sanctions imposed on Moscow following the annexation. It voted against several UN resolutions about the violation of human rights in Crimea or the condemnation of Moscow's move.

Volunteers from Serbia fought on the side of Russian separatists in Donbas, in eastern Ukraine.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has recognised Kosovo's independence.

The State Department recalled President Joseph Biden's message to Russians.

"You are not our enemies. I do not believe you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine, the country and the people with whom you share deep family, historical and cultural ties," Biden said.