Russian Duma official Leonid Slutsky told Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday that Moscow will support Belgrade’s stands, especially in regard to Kosovo.

Slutsky, who chairs the Duma International Affairs Committee, said that Russia is proud of its close relationship with Serbia, a press release from the president’s cabinet said.  

Vucic is quoted as saying that his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin are confirmation of “the high level of understanding and trust characterizing relations between Serbia and Russia”.  

The press release said that Vucic informed the Russian official of developments in Kosovo, especially the measures taken by the authorities in Pristina which he said brought a deterioration of living conditions for Kosovo Serbs and a break in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

“President Vucic said that the dialogue can only be continued if Pristina revokes the unreasonable tariffs on Serbian goods and added that Serbia will always be in favour of a policy of peace and stability,” said the statement.