KUBINKA (Moscow region). Aug 19 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has received an invitation to visit Serbia.
"Our President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Aleksandar Vucic gives you warm greetings and his personal invitation to come to Belgrade, to Serbia to see with your own eyes what headway Serbia has made due to your personal participation, it has become more capable," Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said while meeting with Shoigu.
"The more capable the Serbian army is, the more peace there will be in the Balkans," the Serbian minister said.
Vucic said in July the country was expected to receive four Mil Mi-35 combat helicopters, three Mi-17 transport helicopters, ten T-72 tanks and 20 combat reconnaissance scout vehicles before the end of this year. The president said some of the equipment will be purchased and some will be provided free of charge.
It was reported in July that Romania had banned the transportation of military cargoes from Russia to Serbia through its territory. According to some reports, the cargoes were 30 T-72B3 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 armored vehicles.
The media reported in summer 2018 Belgrade had made an official request to buy S-300 systems developed and manufactured by Almaz-Antey.
In 2017, Dmitry Rogozin, who was deputy prime minister at that moment, said Serbia was interested in buying Tor and Buk air defense systems.