Russia Considering Serbia’s Request to Buy Defensive Weapons

Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian deputy prime minister said that the final decision on the matter of Serbian request to buy Russian arms would be made based on the "necessity to maintain Serbia’s security at the minimal sufficient level with regard to its needs."

BELGRADE (Sputnik) — Russia is closely studying a request for defensive weapons filed by Serbia in the face of increased risks to the Balkan state’s national security, the Russian deputy prime minister said Monday.

Rogozin stressed that the final decision on the matter would be made based on the "necessity to maintain Serbia’s security at the minimal sufficient level with regard to its needs."

He said that high-precision weapons in question were "not offensive ones but those capable of removing any risks of an attack on Serbia."

Rogozin was in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Monday where he met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. He presented the head of the Serbian government with a mock-up of a Russia-made S-300 air defense system.