Europe

Serbia: Putin agrees large weapons delivery to Balkans

Associated Press
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In this Wednesday, April 6, 2016 photo, ground crew stands on the tarmac by a Mig 21 fighter jet, at the military airport Batajnica, near Belgrade, Serbia. Serbia's defense minister Zoran Djordjevic says Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to sign off on a delivery of fighter jets, battle tanks and armored vehicles to Serbia, which could trigger an arms race in the war-torn Balkans. Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic said Tuesday, March 28, 2017 that six MiG-29 fighter jets, 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 armored vehicles will be delivered soon. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

In this Wednesday, April 6, 2016 photo, ground crew prepares a Yugoslav-made Galeb-4 (Seagull-4) multi-purpose jet for a flight at the military airport Batajnica, near Belgrade, Serbia. Serbia's defense minister Zoran Djordjevic says Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to sign off on a delivery of fighter jets, battle tanks and armored vehicles to Serbia, which could trigger an arms race in the war-torn Balkans. Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic said Tuesday, March 28, 2017 that six MiG-29 fighter jets, 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 armored vehicles will be delivered soon. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Serbia's defense minister says Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to sign off on a delivery of fighter jets, battle tanks and armored vehicles to Serbia.

Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic said Tuesday that six MiG-29 fighter jets, 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 armored vehicles will be delivered soon.

Djordjevic says in a statement that Putin agreed to approve the delivery during a visit by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Moscow on Monday.

Serbia formally has been on the path to join the European Union, but under political and propaganda pressure from Moscow has steadily slid toward the Kremlin and its goal of keeping the countries in the region out of NATO.