Serbia's president says he always asks Putin for advice

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic always consults with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, he said in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman in the run-up to the Russian leader’s visit to Belgrade due on Thursday.

"I always consult with President Putin, I ask him for advice, and I request his advice. I familiarize him with what is happening and I don’t lie, I tell the truth, although he does not always like everything. I think this is one of things which Putin respects very much. And I respect this because he is the leader of a great country and I’m the leader of a small country, and he shows respect for this country and I’m very grateful for that," Vucic said.

The Serbian president recalled that he came under serious pressure after Serbia had sent humanitarian aid to Syria. "We sent not weapons, but cereals, butter and sugar, but harsh attacks on us began. And when I came to President Putin and journalists came I told him that we could send one or two planes with [humanitarian] aid. And Vladimir Vladimirovich told me: "Aleksandar, don’t do this, this creates only additional problems for you."