The statement of the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, that Russia supports the initiative of the "Open Balkans", which he said is an initiative of Serbia, has provoked numerous reactions.

In this regard, the European Union did not want to comment on the statement of the Russian diplomat, saying that he is on the list of sanctions from the EU.

This is what EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy spokesman Peter Stano told the Telegraph.

"We do not see the need to comment on the position of Lavrov, who is on the EU sanctions list for promoting illegal aggression that undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is involved in spreading misinformation," he said. Stano.

Peter Stano, EU Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Lavrov said that "Brussels leaders did not want to confirm Russia's position on Kosovo and BiH, to express support for Belgrade's initiative for the Open Balkans and to discuss interests in improving relations between the countries of the region."

Referring to this statement, Stano said that Russia does not have to judge the EU cooperation with the Balkan countries.

"Russia's destabilizing efforts in the Western Balkans are well known and Russia does not qualify to judge EU co-operation with partners in the Western Balkans.

I can only recall that EU activities in the Western Balkans are a direct response to the desire and request of our partners to work closely with the EU and to join the EU as a community of law-abiding nations. "International law, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms," Stano said.

Asked whether the European Union supports the "Open Balkans" initiative, Stano said that Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi will participate on Wednesday in the "Open Balkans" summit being held in Ohrid.

Otherwise, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was scheduled to begin a two-day visit to Belgrade on Monday, but that visit was thwarted by the fact that Bulgaria, northern Macedonia and Montenegro banned his plane from flying over their airspace.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Bulgaria, Montenegro and northern Macedonia "as sovereign states have made sovereign decisions about their airspace, which reflects Europe's determination to hold Russia accountable for its its unjust invasion of Ukraine, which is unjustified. "

"These were sovereign decisions on the airspace of these three sovereign states, which reflect the determination of Europe to hold Russia accountable for the unjustified invasion of Ukraine, which has no reason.

"We call on Serbia to focus on its goal of EU membership, including the harmonization of its foreign and security policies with the rest of Europe."

The "Open Balkans" is an initiative that is being supported by Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia, while Kosovo continues to reject it.