Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reports that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, amid concerns over potential gas supply disruptions to Serbia.
According to Vucic, the meeting follows impending US sanctions against Serbia’s national oil and gas company, NIS, and the anticipated halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine starting January 1, 2025. Vucic cited an unofficial source for the Putin-Fico meeting, highlighting its significance given Fico’s leadership of an EU member state.
“Unofficially, but as certainly as I spoke about the sanctions against NIS, Robert Fico will be meeting with Putin on Monday, as the leader of a European Union country,” Vucic stated in an interview with Serbian Happy TV, as reported by Euronews Serbia.
Vucic emphasized the significant impact of the cessation of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, pointing to a Friday order signed by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal. He reiterated that the US sanctions on NIS are also anticipated to take effect on January 1, 2025, compounding Serbia’s energy security challenges for the upcoming winter.
The termination of the Russian-Ukrainian gas transit agreement is causing considerable anxiety for nations such as Slovakia that rely on this supply route.
Slovakia, as Fico noted on Friday, is contemplating retaliatory measures against Ukraine for its refusal to continue the gas transit.
“The relationship between our countries cannot be one-sided,” Fico declared, adding, “I cannot rule out reciprocal measures.” He indicated that his government will assess possible responses within the coming week.
Vucic further commented that the potential Putin-Fico meeting “will likely trigger reactions from other EU leaders, demonstrating the complexity of the situation.”