Serbia announces deal to buy 12 French warplanes in shift away from Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced a three billion dollar deal to buy 12 French warplanes, in a move that shifts his country away from its dependence on Russian arms.

The announcement about the Rafale multi-purpose fighter jets was made during a joint news conference in Belgrade with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a two-day visit to Serbia.