Europe is facing a difficult winter this year, but next winter will be “polar,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday, commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech at the Eastern Economic Forum.
Among other things, Putin stressed that Russia would not supply energy to countries adopting measures in breach of supply contracts.
He also said that amid the sanctions the EU imposed in response to Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, Russia no longer considers the bloc to be its main export destination. Although Serbia is not a member state, the country’s energy supplies transit through countries that are, meaning that any EU sanctions on Russia also affect Serbia.
During a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Belgrade, Vucic admitted that he had listened only to a fragment of Putin’s speech but understood his message quite well.
“This winter is going to be very cold for all of us,” Vucic said, adding that “next winter will be polar for all of Europe.”