Kremlin courts Serbia's new leaders after Vucic election loss
Why it matters: Serbia kept close energy, political and military ties with Moscow even while seeking EU membership.
The Kremlin moved quickly on Monday to preserve ties with Serbia after a student-backed protest movement crushed President Aleksandar Vucic's party in a parliamentary election. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Vucic's role in building relations with Moscow and said Russia hoped the new forces taking power in Belgrade would keep cooperation on track. The result deprives Russia of another friendly government in Europe, six months after ally Viktor Orban was defeated in Hungary. Serbia has pursued European Union membership but refused to join EU-backed sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine, while maintaining close economic, political and military links with Moscow.