Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Sunday that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in two and a half years.
He especially expressed his gratitude for Serbia’s continued access to cheap Russian gas, Vučić shared on Instagram.
The reason for the call was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade by the Red Army and Yugoslav Partisans during the Second World War on October 20, 1944.
Vučić also stated that he had assured Putin that Serbia would not impose sanctions on Russia. Although Belgrade has consistently condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine, it has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow. This position contrasts Serbia with the position of the European Union, which the country wants to join.
Serbia maintains good relations with Moscow. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, also the former head of the intelligence service, is even on the US sanctions list because of his close ties to Putin.
Vučić has yet to decide whether he will attend the BRICS summit, scheduled for October 22 to 24 in the Russian city of Kazan.
A few days ago, the Serbian president acknowledged that he was aware that his Western partners would disapprove of his participation in the BRICS summit.
The BRICS group, founded in 2006, has a total of nine members, including Russia, Iran and China. Serbia is not a member.
