Russia has agreed to extend a contract on gas supplies to Serbia, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
RT composite. © Getty Images / Marco Tacc; Sputnik / Alexander Kazakov
Russian
President Vladimir Putin and his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic,
discussed energy security amid the ongoing Iran and Ukraine conflicts
in a phone call on Monday, according to the Kremlin.
The war in
the Middle East has sent global gas and oil prices skyrocketing as
shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint,
have dwindled to a trickle in recent weeks.
Serbia, which has
historically maintained close ties with Russia, has consistently
resisted EU pressure to join sanctions against Moscow or to cut energy
ties with its ally over the Ukraine conflict.
The conversation between Putin and Vucic focused mainly on the “strategic partnership”
between the two nations, most notably with respect to energy supplies,
the Kremlin said. The Serbian president reportedly expressed gratitude
for the continuation of “stable gas deliveries” from Russia.
After
the call, Vucic told Serbian media that Putin had agreed to a
three-month prolongation of a gas contract that was due to expire March
31. According to the Serbian president, Belgrade secured very favorable
terms, with prices far lower than in most of Europe.
According to the Kremlin, Putin and Vucic also exchanged views
on the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, the Ukraine conflict, and
security in Kosovo, as well as neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina.