Serbia is close to signing a new long-term agreement with Russia for natural gas supplies, with the deal potentially being finalised by the end of May, according to the head of Serbia’s state-owned energy firm.
Srbijagas director Dušan Bajatović confirmed that Belgrade is seeking a 10-year contract with Gazprom, and that Moscow has expressed its willingness to proceed, pending the resolution of a key clause, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.
“We are asking for a 10-year agreement. They have agreed, and there is one very important issue,” Bajatović said.
“Europe wants to ban Russian gas in 2027, but some kind of deal could be struck between the Russians and the Americans. The question arises—what constitutes force majeure in our contract if we sign it for 10 years, both for us and for the Russian side? So that they are not penalised for failing to deliver, and we are not sanctioned for being unable to accept it.”
According to Bajatović, Presidents Aleksandar Vučić and Vladimir Putin effectively approved the contract extension during talks held in Moscow on May 9. Only technical details remain to be finalised.
“The contract should be signed by the end of the month,” he said, adding: “Everyone wants to buy Russian gas, no matter what they say.”
Note that, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday to discuss a potential extension of Serbia’s discounted gas supply agreement with Russia. The current deal, which provides Serbia with natural gas at $275 per 1,000 cubic metres—significantly below European market prices—is set to expire at the end of May.
During the meeting, Vučić expressed hope that the favourable terms could be maintained or even improved, thanking Putin for Russia’s role in Serbia’s energy security. Putin, in turn, said that the issue of future supplies would be "definitely" discussed, reaffirming Russia's position as a key energy partner for Serbia.
Serbia, which is seeking EU membership, has drawn criticism from Brussels for its continued close ties with Moscow, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Unlike EU member states, Belgrade has not joined Western sanctions against Russia.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
Source: caliber.az
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