SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Tuesday that his country not only intends to preserve but also to expand cooperation with Russia, particularly in the energy sector, after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

Vucic told Serbian reporters that Moscow and Belgrade are preparing for a new natural gas agreement.

“We have received assurance that the gas deal will be on favorable terms. Putin did not go into details, because presidents do not discuss such matters. I told him I expect fairness toward Serbia. I believe there will be developments by the end of September,” Vucic said.

He added that Putin strongly supported Serbia’s independence and that their talks covered multiple issues, with a particular focus on energy security.

National media reported that Vucic reminded Putin that Serbia remains the only European country not to impose sanctions on Russia, noting that Belgrade has been under heavy pressure since the start of the Ukraine war.

The two leaders also addressed allegations that Serbian arms had been supplied to Ukraine.

Vucic rejected the claims and said they agreed to form a joint working group to trace the origins of weapons Russia says reached Ukraine from Serbian sources.

Energy cooperation, particularly natural gas supplies, and the importance of maintaining Serbia’s territorial integrity were central themes in the discussions.

The meeting took place as Serbia continues to balance its EU membership aspirations with its longstanding ties to Russia.