Vucic: Two US requests – one related to energy, the other more political

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not specify today what the two requests of the United States were that he mentioned in Davos as a precondition for entering talks on a strategic partnership between the two countries, but said that one relates to energy, while the other is more political in nature.

“There was no mention yesterday of the US requests at the session of the Serbian Government, there will be in the coming days. As soon as we prepare it, let the Government announce it. One is certainly related to energy, the other is more political in nature,” Vucic told Blic TV in response to a question about the two requests.

Earlier, in Davos, Vucic said that Serbia remains on the European path, which it must accelerate and for which it has an opportunity, but that it also wants to strengthen cooperation with the United States, adding that he “believes we will meet two formal US requests and be able to enter talks on a strategic partnership.”

Two key issues on the path to the EU – Kosovo and relations with Russia

Referring again to the speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Davos, Vucic said that it had set out a political platform for the future, while another question is whether that is possible and what the consequences will be.

“She set ideological postulates and had the courage to break with the present and the past, and those are not small things. Her speech was outstanding, but whether there will be solutions in the future… Europe thinks the US will return to it, that love is eternal if it lasted 80 years. It will never return again. And she said that herself, and that there is no nostalgia in it, but that one should look to the future,” Vucic noted.

Asked where Serbia stands when a message comes from Europe that change is underway, he replied that he believes von der Leyen is counting on Serbia when she speaks about an independent Europe.

Asked what is needed to accelerate the process of European integration, he specified that there are two key issues:

“Relations with Russia and Kosovo and Metohija. Everything else Serbia more or less has the capacity to resolve.”

He added that resolving the issue of Russian ownership in NIS means a lot to Serbia in existential terms, but little politically, both in relations with the EU and with the US, because the fact remains that sanctions have not been imposed on Moscow.

When it comes to possible Ukrainian membership in the European Union as of 1 January 2027, the Serbian President reiterated that this date appears in a future peace plan, which will be binding on Ukraine, Russia, and many major powers.

Asked whether that would mean that, if the EU is not united on this issue, there could also be a change in the way decisions are made on becoming an EU member, Vucic replied that this cannot be changed unless the Union’s rules and procedures are violated.

“But something will have to happen. Because there will be no peace agreement if Ukraine does not enter the EU on 1 January 2027. Some kind of unlawful miracle will have to happen for Ukraine to be in the EU. That opens up some opportunities for us,” Vucic said.

Elections this year, between October and December

Vucic reiterated that parliamentary elections will be held in Serbia this year “between October and December.”

“We are going to elections this year, in the autumn. I think that is the more likely option,” Vucic said.

Asked whether he would combine parliamentary and presidential elections, he replied that he does not rule out that possibility, but that he would certainly not “shorten the mandate,” adding that in such a case he would resign, although he has not yet thought about it.

“I haven’t dealt with that, right now I’m really dealing with the topics from yesterday. Even 10 days until elections is a long time, let alone 10 months,” Vucic said, and when asked whether that means voters could go to the polls in November, he added:

“Realistically. Between October and December is realistic.”