Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the West has always justified imposing sanctions on Russia in order to curb its development.

During a press conference with Serbian TV, Lavrov said Russia has a large number of partners and allies in the world and therefore isolation from the West makes no sense.

Commenting on the US' demand of Europe and Balkan countries to join sanctions on Russia, the Foreign Minister pointed out how the US demands democracy from some countries while behaving in a dictatorial manner with other countries.

The EU is exerting some pressure on Serbia to change its stance on Russia and join the sanctions campaign, to which Lavrov said the West has always ignored the sovereign rights of other nations.

Patriotic associations' activists in the Serbian capital of Belgrade held a rally in support of Russia.

He added that Russia hopes that negotiations with the Ukrainians in Istanbul succeed and lead to an end to the killing of civilians in Donbass by the Kiev regime.

Read more: Russia appreciates Turkey's approach to Montreux obligations

On Russian-Chinese relations, Lavrov said that Moscow's relationship with Beijing is at its strongest ever.

Beijing has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the sanctions, insisting that it will maintain normal economic and trade relations with Russia and has not condemned the military operation in Ukraine.

Talks between Russian officials and Ukrainians are set to begin tomorrow in Istanbul. The Russian President and his Turkish counterpart agreed in a phone call on Sunday that Istanbul would host the talks, which Ankara hopes will lead to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Regarding Biden's comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday it is weird to hear US President Joe Biden, the man who called for bombing Yugoslavia and killing people, raising accusations against the Russian President.

Biden's personal insults against Putin narrow the window of opportunity for improving relations between Moscow and Washington, Peskov added.