European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, MEP Vladimir Bilcik, said on Friday that the Serbian authorities’ decision not to impose sanctions on Russia following its attack on Ukraine will define the country’s relations with the European Union.

“Everyone should understand that Serbia’s choice not to join the European Union sanctions is a defining foreign policy decision for much broader relations between the EU and Serbia,” Bilcik said in a Twitter post.

Putin’s attack against Ukraine is a watershed moment for the #WesternBalkans, too. Everyone should therefore understand that #Serbia’s choice not to join #EU sanctions is a defining foreign policy decision for much broader relations between 🇪🇺 and 🇷🇸.

— Vladimír Bilčík MEP (@VladoBilcik) February 25, 2022

Putin’s attack against Ukraine is a watershed moment for the Western Balkans,” the MEP wrote.

Earlier on Friday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that official Belgrade will not impose sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, but added he advocates respect for that country’s territorial integrity.

“Serbia will be guided solely by its own interests in considering sanctions against any state, including Russia. We feel that it is not in our interest to impose sanctions on any state,” Vucic said.