Serbian President Vučić calls Putin after long hiatus

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Sunday that he has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in two and a half years.

He primarily expressed his gratitude for Serbia's continued access to cheap Russian gas, Vučić shared on Instagram.

The occasion for the call was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade by the Red Army and Yugoslav partisans during World War II 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 refuses to sanction Moscow. This position places Serbia in contrast to the stance of the European Union, which the country aims to join.

Serbia maintains good relations with Moscow. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who is also a former intelligence chief, is even on the US sanctions list due to his proximity to Putin.

Vučić is yet to decide whether he will attend the BRICS summit, planned for October 22 to 24 in the Russian city of Kazan.

A few days ago, the Serbian president acknowledged that he is 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.