Putin openly backs Vučić: I hope he becomes prime minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly expressed his support for Aleksandar Vučić, saying he hopes the former Serbian president will become prime minister of Serbia.

Putin’s statement comes ahead of the snap parliamentary elections on October 25 in Serbia and at a time when Belgrade continues to refuse to impose sanctions on Russia.

Speaking at the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin praised the policy Vučić has pursued toward Moscow and his readiness to continue cooperation with Russia.

“Serbia’s current leadership, Aleksandar Vučić, who until recently was president and, I hope, will in future be prime minister, is pursuing a restrained policy and is showing a desire for cooperation with Russia. We of course welcome this and will respond in the same way,” Putin said.

The Russian president singled out Belgrade’s decision not to join sanctions against Moscow as one of the key points of this relationship.

“We welcome Serbia’s very restrained stance on a number of key and very sensitive issues, as well as its refusal of decisions that imply sanctions against Russia,” he said.

Vučić and Putin have maintained political contacts even during Russia’s war in Ukraine. They met in Moscow in May 2025, when Putin praised what he called Serbia’s “independent and sovereign course” in international politics.

Relations between Belgrade and Moscow also extend to the energy sector, with Serbia continuing to rely on Russian gas supplies. Vučić and Putin have also held talks on gas supply agreements.

Belgrade’s stance toward Moscow has consistently been a point of difference with the European Union. Brussels has asked Serbia, as a candidate country for membership, to align its foreign policy with that of the EU, including measures against Russia.

During his speech, Putin also spoke about Serbs in the region, accusing what he called the “collective West” of treating them unfairly.

He claimed that Serbs have been “forcibly divided” into several states and entities.

“Serbs have become a divided people in Europe, and divided by force. This is unfair,” Putin said.

The Russian president also mentioned his meeting with the Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, and the Dayton Agreement, claiming that solutions are imposed on Serbs from outside.

“Every injustice leads to complications and conflicts,” Putin said.