ZAKHAROVA: BALKAN COUNTRIES SHOULD UNDERSTAND CONSEQUENCES OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

MOSCOW, OCTOBER 14 /SRNA - RIA Novosti/ - Russia hopes that Balkan countries understand the consequences of European integration and recognize the negative changes taking place in the EU, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

She noted that Europe's accelerated militarization, unsuccessful migration policy, and refusal to trade with Russia and purchase Russian energy resources were having a negative impact on its socio-economic situation.

"We hope that the Western Balkan countries are noticing and analyzing these changes in the EU and clearly understand the consequences of European integration for their national interests and the well-being of their citizens," Zakharova told the Izvestia newspaper.

She added that even the prospect of EU accession entails aligning foreign policy with that of the Union, including sanctions against Russia and comprehensive support for Ukraine, which may not be in the interests of those countries and could deprive them of their neutral status.