Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on Instagram that he had spoken by telephone with Vladimir Putin. He said he expected the gas contract to be extended from Monday while retaining a favourable price. Danas quoted him putting Serbia's price at about €318 per thousand cubic metres, compared with €868 on the market. The figures are Vučić's own comparison.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Russia's Gazprom Neft and Hungary's MOL over the sale of a Russian stake have continued for months. It remains uncertain whether they will conclude before Serbia's election on October 25.
Commenting on the relationship, Ivana Stradner said Belgrade needs Russian energy support. In her assessment, Moscow values Serbia as a partner that has not imposed sanctions on Russia and could help it circumvent restrictions. That is Stradner's interpretation, rather than a stated objective of the two governments.
Stradner also argued that Western countries increasingly question the gap between Vučić's promises of closer Western ties and Serbia's practical links with Moscow and Beijing. She described his image as a guarantor of stability as political marketing, saying his actions now carry greater weight than his statements.
The United States launched a strategic dialogue with Serbia in the middle of the year, focusing on energy. Voices in Congress have called for conditions linked to Belgrade's relationships with Russia, China and Iran, as well as democratic backsliding.
On September 23, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Serbia was involved in potentially explosive issues without specifying them. Vučić has emphasised his wish for better relations with the United States while maintaining ties with Russia and China.