Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic engaged in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, marking their first interaction in two and a half years. This dialogue occurred as Vucic contemplates his participation in the upcoming BRICS summit.
Serbia, aspiring to join the European Union, has steadfastly declined to impose sanctions on Russia, preserving its close and amicable ties. Despite this, Serbia has vocally condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its impact on Ukraine's territorial integrity, leading to limited direct exchanges between Vucic and Putin.
In a social media video, Vucic expressed his gratitude to Putin, particularly for ensuring Serbia's gas supply for the winter. During their first direct conversation since May 2022, Vucic reaffirmed Serbia's commitment to not imposing sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.
This conversation takes place as Russia awaits Serbia's formal response to Putin's invitation for Vucic to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, scheduled from October 22 to 24. Vucic has previously stated that his decision to attend the summit could be seen as a departure from Serbia's European aspirations, while declining could be perceived as a betrayal of Russia. He plans to announce his final decision by Monday.
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