Ancient Alliance Renewed! Putin Strengthens Russia’s Strategic Commitment to Serbia

The Russian presidential plane landed while being escorted by a squadron of Serbian Air Force MiGs. An aerial escort of honor, which is carried out only on special occasions, is a sign of special relations. Serbian president Vučić personally met Putin at the ramp and didn't follow the protocol rules.

The Russian presidential plane landed while being escorted by a squadron of Serbian Air Force MiGs. An aerial escort of honor, which is carried out only on special occasions, is a sign of special relations. Serbian president Vučić personally met Putin at the ramp and didn't follow the protocol rules. An employee of the Serbian protocol service was trying to take a photo of Putin.

In the Russian president's car, the two presidents went to the Monument to the Liberators of Belgrade. They paid floral tributes at the memorial cemetery together. About 2,000 Soviet soldiers and Yugoslavian partisans are buried here. They were killed 75 years ago while liberating the city from fascists. We have a common history and a common past, but we don't have fewer common things at the present. Hundreds of locals welcomed the president at the official residence of the Serbian president. Artillery blasts thundered, and bells rang.

 

Despite the pressure by the EU, Belgrade remains a strong opponent of the anti-Russian sanctions. Serbia is grateful for political and economic support. The protocol provides that the delegations meet each other. But one can see that there's no need to introduce anyone. Vučić gave a hug to Gazprom CEO Miller. As we know, Serbia is interested in extending the TurkStream pipeline. They talked about close cooperation repeatedly.

Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia: "I'd like to heartily thank you for investing your energy, strengths, and efforts in the improvement of the relationship between our countries".

Vladimir Putin: "I'd like to thank the residents of Belgrade and all of the brotherly Serbian people for such a warm welcome. I could see it in people's faces in the streets. Our relations have old and deep roots. A spiritual affinity between our peoples is obvious. It all helps us develop our relations today".

Before the negotiations began, the Serbian press was practically competing how many photos of Vladimir Putin's could be published. And at the entrance to the press conference, they fought to occupy better seats. Their meeting received colossal attention.

But there was a very small participant who waited until the end of the negotiations. It was a puppy named Pasha. It was the Serbian president's gift to Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin: “Oh, he's so cute. He's cute. Is he Pasha? Pasha.

Putin knelt, stroked Pasha, and immediately gave him something. It's a herding dog, which is considered to be a symbol of loyalty and power. They're the qualities which Serbs and Russians have always appreciated in each other.

Vladimir Putin: "He's so cute. He's so nice. You’re a good dog".

The informal part was a response to the honorable award given to Aleksandar Vučić. Putin signed the decree on awarding the Order of Alexander Nevsky to the Serbian president on Christmas Day. Today, he awarded it personally.

Vladimir Putin: "We know you as a true supporter of the close and warm relationship between Russia and Serbia. Thanks to your personal participation, Russian-Serbian cooperation is being successfully developed in all areas. The international political situation doesn't affect it. We highly appreciate your principal position, dear Mr. President".

Aleksandar Vučić: "My gratitude isn't provided for by the protocol. It's deep and sincere. And this recognition and this award mean a lot to me. The Serbian people will never forget what Vladimir Vladimirovich did in 2015 when on instructions by the president of the Russian Federation, Russia vetoed the British resolution in the UN Security Council which provided that Serbia would be declared a nation which committed genocide. Then, President Putin defended truth and justice".

A solid package of agreements is proof of today's close ties. They're agreements to establish a center for nuclear science, space exploration, and education. Both in Serbia and Russia, it is believed that innovations will ensure a future breakthrough.

Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom CEO: "If we're talking about the standard of living in the country, we're talking about nuclear medicine, for example. If we're talking about, let's say, agricultural development, we're talking about agricultural technologies which use isotope products. Today, it's all an integral part of the global technological agenda".

Nenad Popović, Minister of Innovation and Technological Development: "Today, we laid the cornerstone of future cooperation. I expect our trade to increase over the next 5-6 years. No, I don't mean the trade of goods, but the sharing of knowledge. Knowledge is the more valuable thing".

Last year, the trade between the two countries approached $2 billion. And Russia's investments in the Serbian economy exceeded $4 billion.

Kirill Dmitriev, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO: "This is one of the largest investments attracted even for European countries. But certainly, it can be increased".

But the energy industry is still one of the main topics. Russian companies have long been working there. Serbs want to keep buying cheap Russian gas. There was a question about the construction of the gas pipeline, as to whether Europe hinders the process.

Vladimir Putin: “I can rest assure you that they're not hindering it. They don't hinder it at all. Given the growing supplies of our natural gas to Europe, last year, it was a record volume of over 7 trillion cubic feet, and the volume is still growing, we'll not only give the full load to the two Nord Streams and the TurkStream, but having this level of supplies to our European consumers, the opportunities to transport gas through Ukraine persist.”

Aleksandar Vučić: "Last night, I heard a lot of stories from all over as to from where gas could come to us. But I 've never seen a cubic foot of gas that wasn't Russian. They mentioned liquid and liquified gas which costs twice as much. Why would we pay twice as much? We can't and won't do so".

Russia is ready to invest almost $1.5 billion in the project. They have the resources, including the technical ones, for this.

Alexey Miller, Gazprom CEO: "We've already mobilized our resources. We can start construction any day now".

The Kosovo issue was also discussed today. According to Putin, the decision by the unrecognized republic to create its own army is a gross provocation and a violation of the UN Security Council resolution. Russia will defend this position at the international level.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Serbs waited for Putin near the Church of Saint Sava. Many of them came to Belgrade for this. The Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade is the largest in the Balkans and one of the biggest Orthodox churches in the world. It seems to be visible from anywhere in the Serbian capital. It seems to be another symbol of friendship between Serbia and Russia because large-scale works to make interior design and decoration were possible thanks to Russian help.

They began to build it over a century ago, but only now, the church, named after the most popular saint in Serbia, is getting a unique interior design. Here's a giant mosaic depicting the ascension of Jesus Christ, where tons of bright-colored fragments form sacred images. They're made by Russian craftsmen. All of the works are to be completed this year when the Serbian Orthodox Church will celebrate its 800th anniversary.

Actually, the common faith is also the thing uniting our nations.

Alexander Balitsky, Illya Nalyotov, Renat Gareev, Andrey Yurchuk, and Alexandra Terpugova for Vesti from Belgrade, Serbia.