Russia supports Serbia and is ready to provide any assistance in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and integrity, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said during a visit to Belgrade on Saturday.

He noted that his country favours a peaceful solution regarding the issue of Kosovo which is in line with the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244.

“We want a stable Balkans and cooperation with all countries in the Balkans,” Medvedev said in his address to the Serbian Parliament.

He recalled that he was in Serbia ten years ago and that even then relations between the country and Russia were at a high level, but are also improving further.

“We highly appreciate that Serbia did not impose sanctions agains Russia, despite great pressure,” Medvedev said.

The Russian PM announced that Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic will visit Moscow on October 25th to sign a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Union, which operates on an equal footing and pursues pragmatic interests of its members.

Medvedev also spoke about the European Union, saying that countries should not be forced to choose between East and West, but should be left to act according to their own interests.

He added that Russia is interested in partnership based on mutual respect with the EU as well.