BELGRADE: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic plans to discuss with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the possibility of concluding a n...
BELGRADE: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic plans to discuss with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the possibility of concluding a new gas contract with Moscow, as well as US plans to impose sanctions on NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije), in which Russia is a shareholder.
"I will have to talk to Putin about the sanctions [against] NIS and the gas agreement. I do not know yet whether I will talk to him over the phone or by some other means, we’ll see. But I definitely have to talk to him," Vucic said at a Serbian government meeting.
Earlier, he noted that the US decision to impose sanctions on NIS starting January 1, 2025, would not alter Belgrade's refusal to join the anti-Russian sanctions. Vucic emphasized that the authorities would take steps to address the issue, stating that the country would seek to "preserve friendly ties with Russia while maintaining good relations with those imposing the sanctions."
NIS later told TASS that the company currently faces no restrictions on its activities but is analyzing all possible scenarios and consequences of the potential US sanctions.
During a meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need for Moscow and Belgrade to resolve the issue of the expiring gas contract. Later, Vulin stated that he "cannot imagine" a scenario in which Serbia could endure the upcoming winter without Russian gas. Meanwhile, Srbijagas Director Dusan Bajatovic announced that Belgrade would begin substantive negotiations with Moscow on extending the expiring gas supply agreement in the first quarter of 2025.
Vucic also stated that he had agreed with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to jointly attend the Red Square parade in Moscow on May 9, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory.
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