Politics · Russia · 5 hrs ago
Vučić says Putin questioned his resignation and recalled a tense 2016 meeting
Former Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić described his talks with Vladimir Putin in an interview with journalist Ksenia Sobchak.
He said Putin was the only world leader who directly asked why he was stepping down.
Their last phone call was on September 26, a day before Vučić signed his resignation.
Vučić said he wanted to show he could win an election as an ordinary citizen, but had no answer when Putin asked what would happen while he lacked presidential powers.
He also recalled a tense 2016 meeting when Putin spoke quietly and raised whether Serbia might join NATO.
Vučić said Serbia had no such plan, and that the atmosphere eased after he clarified this; he described the relationship as one built on respect.
Vučić is now the ruling party’s candidate for prime minister, and Serbia has scheduled an early parliamentary election for October 25.
Presidential elections must be held by December 27, while parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić is temporarily carrying out the duties of head of state.
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Vladimir Putin was the only world leader to ask him directly why he was resigning.
Vučić said Putin asked about his resignation during their last phone call on September 26.
He also recalled a 2016 Kremlin meeting when Putin spoke unusually quietly, leading Vučić to think he was angry.
Vučić said Putin raised the possibility of Serbia joining NATO and questioned whether it would benefit the Serbian people.
Vučić said the atmosphere eased after he told Putin Serbia had no plans to join NATO.
- Who
- Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- What
- Vučić recounted Putin’s question about his resignation and recalled a tense 2016 meeting.
- When
- The phone call was on September 26; the meeting was in 2016.
- Where
- The 2016 meeting took place in the Kremlin. The phone call’s location is not stated.
- Why
- Putin asked why Vučić was resigning; he questioned Serbia’s possible NATO membership because he did not think it would benefit the Serbian people.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Putin received Vučić at the Kremlin for their ninth meeting and raised the possibility of Serbia joining NATO.
Vučić and Putin had their last phone call, during which Putin asked why Vučić was resigning.
Vučić signed his resignation statement.
- Phone call
- September 26
- Resignation statement
- Signed on the evening of September 27
- 2016 meeting
- Ninth meeting between Vučić and Putin
- Meeting location
- Kremlin
- NATO issue
- Putin questioned whether Serbia joining NATO would benefit the Serbian people
3 sources
What people are saying
Почему ты уходишь в отставку?
Когда он чем-то недоволен, он тогда немного тише говорит.
А что будет происходить в этот месяц с небольшим? Что-то случится – у тебя нет полномочий