Serbia Reiterates Dedication to Collaborating on Energy Projects with Russia
Serbia aims to maintain the current conditions for future gas supplies from Russia, according to President Aleksandar Vucic. Moscow and Belgrade are in discussions for a new agreement as the existing contract is set to expire at the end of...
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Serbia aims to maintain the current conditions for future gas supplies from Russia, according to President Aleksandar Vucic. Moscow and Belgrade are in discussions for a new agreement as the existing contract is set to expire at the end of May.
The landlocked Balkan nation depends significantly on Russian energy and has been impacted by Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Serbia has managed to secure both oil and gas supplies from Russia while opting not to send weapons to Ukraine and criticizing the EU sanctions against Moscow.
“The matter of gas supply is a vital issue,” Vucic remarked in fluent Russian during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, highlighting that Serbia "had a long-term contract and very favorable terms."
"We hope that we will have the opportunity to maintain, and even improve, these terms," the Serbian president added.
Putin emphasized that energy collaboration is “a driving force of the trade and investment relations” between Moscow and Belgrade, noting that Gazprom is supplying amounts exceeding its contractual obligations at Serbia's request.
“Russia remains the guarantor of Serbia’s energy security, meeting around 85% of the country’s total energy needs,” Putin noted, specifying that “contracted volumes of natural gas are being delivered as scheduled via the TurkStream route.”
Under the current agreement, which extends until May 31, Belgrade pays only $275 per 1,000 cubic meters—significantly lower than the European market rate, which has been fluctuating around $400 after reaching an annual peak of $665 in early February.
Vucic traveled to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital, despite a recent health scare that caused him to shorten a trip to the United States, leading to the cancellation of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida. He attended the Russian events alongside Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, even while facing considerable pressure from Brussels.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
The landlocked Balkan nation depends significantly on Russian energy and has been impacted by Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Serbia has managed to secure both oil and gas supplies from Russia while opting not to send weapons to Ukraine and criticizing the EU sanctions against Moscow.
“The matter of gas supply is a vital issue,” Vucic remarked in fluent Russian during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, highlighting that Serbia "had a long-term contract and very favorable terms."
"We hope that we will have the opportunity to maintain, and even improve, these terms," the Serbian president added.
Putin emphasized that energy collaboration is “a driving force of the trade and investment relations” between Moscow and Belgrade, noting that Gazprom is supplying amounts exceeding its contractual obligations at Serbia's request.
“Russia remains the guarantor of Serbia’s energy security, meeting around 85% of the country’s total energy needs,” Putin noted, specifying that “contracted volumes of natural gas are being delivered as scheduled via the TurkStream route.”
Under the current agreement, which extends until May 31, Belgrade pays only $275 per 1,000 cubic meters—significantly lower than the European market rate, which has been fluctuating around $400 after reaching an annual peak of $665 in early February.
Vucic traveled to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital, despite a recent health scare that caused him to shorten a trip to the United States, leading to the cancellation of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida. He attended the Russian events alongside Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, even while facing considerable pressure from Brussels.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
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