Vučić for US media: Make a truce as soon as possible

In an interview with the American Bloomberg, he said that the truce proposal by the winner of the November 5 election is the only way out of the conflict that has been going on for three years, although it might be difficult for the presidents of Russia Vladimir Putin and Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to accept it.

"Conclude a truce as soon as possible. Then there will be ways to achieve long-term peace, but take this first step as soon as possible," Vučić said.

He added that stopping the fighting would not only end the bloodshed, but would be in the West's best interests.

The US agency states that Vučić has been balancing between East and West for a long time, as well as that Serbia, although it did not join the Western sanctions against Moscow, provided assistance to Kyiv and condemned Russia's attack.

It is added that Vučić recently, for the first time in two and a half years, spoke by phone with Putin, whom he told that he would not be able to accept his invitation to participate in the BRICS summit held from October 22 to 24 in Kazan.

"That's what gentlemen do, that's what real men do in such circumstances, even if the other side expects a different answer," Vučić said about the telephone conversation with Putin.

He added that he asked Putin about the situation in Ukraine and that he raised the topic of a ceasefire, but that Putin showed no interest and said that all the goals of the special military operations would be fulfilled. Vučić stated that he also discussed with Putin the three-year agreement between Serbia on the supply of Russian gas, which expires next year.

"We will have to start talks very soon, which will not be easy," said Vučić and added that next week he will talk with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, about the available quantities of gas, and then he will have a clear picture of what should be done with Russia when it comes to that question.