Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in an interview with the Financial Times that "Serbia will not jeopardize its national interests by joining the sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia over the war in Ukraine."
Vucic said Belgrade would not choose a "side", despite calls from the European Union to impose sanctions on Russia.
"We have a kind of protection from Russia. What do western countries want? "Should we leave all our national interests because someone needs something for himself?" He said.
The president underlined that Serbia will continue its friendship with Beijing and Moscow, despite pressure from Brussels.
Serbia has long had strong political, economic and security ties with Russia, which supports Belgrade's refusal to recognize Kosovo's independence.