Europe Serbia's president speaks to Putin on the phone after a long break

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has said that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone for the first time in two and a half years. Above all, he expressed his gratitude that Serbia would continue to receive cheap Russian gas, Vucic announced on Instagram. The reason for the phone 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.

He also assured Putin that Serbia would not impose sanctions against Russia, Vucic continued. Although Belgrade has always condemned Russia's war against Ukraine, it rejects sanctions against Moscow. This puts Serbia at odds with the line taken by the EU, which the country wants to join.

Serbia maintains good relations with Moscow. Deputy Prime Minister and former head of the secret service Aleksandar Vulin is even on the US sanctions list due to his closeness to Putin.

Vucic still wants to decide whether he will travel to the Brics summit, which is planned for October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia. A few days ago, the President declared 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.

SDA