Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, promising never to put sanctions on Russia.
Vučić and Putin spoke with each other in light of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade during the Second World War and a possible visit by the Serbian President to the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia from 22 to 24 October.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and other countries.
Writing on Instagram on October 20, Vučić said he had engaged in a “very good conversation with the President of the Russian Federation”.
Both men had not spoken with each other for two and a half years and in the latest conversation, they were said to have focused on bilateral relations.
Putin reportedly promised to provide sufficient quantities of gas for Serbia this winter.
Vučić said the Russian import was “extremely important for us, at very favourable prices”.
They also talked about economic cooperation and political issues.
“I expressed my hope, just like two and a half years ago, that Serbia will not impose sanctions on the Russian Federation, as I showed exceptional gratitude and for supporting our efforts in the United Nations on the issues of various resolutions, and especially the constant support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia”, Vučić said after the call.
“That is something that will not change. I believe that this will contribute to the further development of Serbian-Russian relations, and that we will be able not only to help each other, but also to develop trust between our peoples and our countries.”
Putin invited his Serbian counterpart to the Victory Day commemorations on May 9 next year. Victory Day marks Germany’s surrender to the Soviet Union in 1945.
He reportedly also said: “What is good for Serbia is also good for Russia, what is good for the Serbs is good for the Russians.”
Also on October 20, Vučić met with US diplomats, stressing the need for stability and dialogue.
In an effort to maintain good relations with Russia, Serbia, a candidate to join the European Union, has long declined to impose sanctions on the country.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has only held limited bilateral talks with Russia, as the country also condemned the violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity.
With regard to energy, Serbia is particularly dependent on Russia and it has been looking to find other suppliers, in line with most EU countries.
Sanctions against Russia are seen in Serbia as going against the country’s own national interests.
The Serbian President admitted he expected criticism from the West after his talk with Putin but stressed: “Serbia is a sovereign country which makes its own decisions.”
Why is the position of the European Union with Serbia so delicate?
Watch the full interview with @fbieber 👉🏽 https://t.co/CKseRFdFwD
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