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The Russian pro-regime newspaper Vzglyad has written about the latest offer (which has not yet been answered) of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Aleksandar Vucic at the BRICS Summit in Kazan.
On the agenda is the extension of the gas contract, which is extremely useful for the citizens of this country, and perhaps something more. Vucic will find it difficult to refuse this offer. But he still doesn't want to admit it, they say.
Public invitations to foreign leaders to visit Russia in absentia are not accepted in domestic diplomatic practice. The schedules of senior officials are complicated, not everything can be planned in advance, and no one wants to be excused for a possible disruption, so invitations are usually announced when all the details have already been agreed through closed channels. However, Vucic received exactly such an invitation, in absentia and publicly from Putin, after which he took time to think.
And to think about it, Vucic has more than a month, writes the newspaper.
"I greet President Vučić. We expect him at the events of the BRICS leaders' meeting in Kazan," the Russian head of state told Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, whom he met on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
"We sent him a proposal. I hope the president will use it," Putin said.
From this list they further state:
Thus, the president of Serbia found himself in a situation that is popularly described as 'I want, I need, but my mother won't give it to me', where 'mother' is the collective West or more specifically the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The fact is that Putin and Vucic have not communicated for more than two and a half years, not even by phone. This is not a coincidence, nor a quarrel, but a consequence of the political balancing act of Vučić, who has maneuvered between two fires - Moscow and Brussels, for two and a half years (and in fact much longer). For one reason, but important, he cannot argue with Russia, for other and no less important reasons with the European Union, and what was easy to combine before, now cannot be combined either from such talented skiers as Vucic. But he tries.
They point out that when Western politicians or journalists accuse Vucic of close relations with Russia, he throws up his hands and reminds them that he has not spoken to Putin "since the beginning of the large-scale conflict."
Scandal is inevitable
Formally, the reason for the conversation between the two presidents is the gas supply contract that expires in March. When it was signed, they received "fraternal" discounts (cheaper gas is sold only in Belarus), they were very happy about this contract and now they have the opportunity to extend it.
According to this newspaper, this is not only a visit to Russia, but also an invitation to participate in the renewed BRICS summit. It is also believed that China, which is gradually becoming the most important investor in Serbia, has participated in this initiative. Beijing has significant plans for Serbia as a "fulcrum" in Europe as it floods the continent with its goods.
In general, it should be accepted. But, on the other hand, the circumstances of Vucic's call and the many accompanying reasons did not allow the president of Serbia to quietly, without scandal, refuse to visit Kazan. If he refuses the invitation now, a scandal is inevitable, moreover, it will not be a scandal between Moscow and Belgrade, but within Serbia. Gas prices, ties with Russia, Chinese aid – all this is very important to Serbs, according to this paper.
However, there is a possibility that Vucic will refuse, because at one point many things have been done for Brussels and Washington. There, the very idea of buying gas from Russia and renewing the contract with it is a "taboo topic". There, in fact, they see the entire BRICS as "an interstate entity with thinly disguised hostility, and they believe that 45.2 percent of the planet's population consists of new European democracies (Serbia, Armenia), says Vzgljad.
They further write:
To be fair, there is cause for concern in Brussels. Russia and China, for different reasons and in different forms, are interested in Serbia due to its geographical position and lithium deposits, which means that BRICS is interested in it, which would benefit from a new member from Europe for regional balance and inclusion claims. . Perhaps behind Vladimir Putin's proposal to discuss gas prices not anywhere but at the BRICS summit, much more is hidden - even an alternative geopolitical choice for Belgrade, if the West continues to keep Serbia in the shadows, not even inviting the EU- in, let alone G7.
From this paper, they believe that Vucic probably fears this the most because it means a historic choice with consequences and there will be no more opportunities for balancing.
Vucic said he will respond on October 10, while Russia says this pause is "inappropriately long".
"Serbs will probably spend a lot of time not thinking, but bargaining with the West. But one month is so short because we are talking about the fact that Vucic will have to either surpass himself or make a choice that he with such talent has avoided for a long time", he said.
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