Serbia extends agreement with Moscow for three years to receive cheap Russian gas

Serbian flag on a pipeline under construction near the village of Sajkas, Serbia, north of Belgrade (Image illustration).

© AP - Darko Vojinovic

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced that he has reached a three-year gas deal with Vladimir Putin.

The announcement comes as several European leaders have told Serbia they want the country to align with European sanctions against Moscow.

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With our correspondent in Belgrade

, 

Laurent Rouy

It is “ 

by far the best deal in Europe

 ”.

It was on television that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, known for his Russophilia, triumphantly announced the agreement reached with Russia, after a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin.

The contract concerns the supply of gas to Serbia at an attractive price, for a period of three years.

The president notably affirmed that the negotiated price is three times lower than that paid by Europeans, and that this difference will be even greater in winter.

The previous Serbian-Russian hydrocarbons agreement is due to expire on May 31, and while Belgrade had announced that it would not consider taking sanctions against Russia because of the war in Ukraine, it was logical that a new agreement would be put in place. square.

Diplomatic ally of Russia

Serbia, a traditional diplomatic ally of Russia, thus confirms its desire not to impose sanctions on Moscow, as Brussels nevertheless demands.

But as long as the Europeans do not speak with one voice against Moscow, Serbia has room for maneuver to affirm both its desire to integrate the EU and not to get angry with the Kremlin.

The country currently receives 6 million cubic meters per day from the Russian giant Gazprom.

Aleksandar Vucic also indicated that he had discussed with Vladimir Putin an extension of storage capacities in his country.

►Also read: Russian gas: the delicate quest for a common position within the European Union

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  • Serbia

  • Russia

  • Aleksandar Vucic

  • Vladimir Poutine

  • Energies