Vučić claims: Some world leaders secretly maintain contact with Putin

(Patria) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić claims that some world leaders are secretly maintaining contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite Western efforts to isolate Moscow.

In an interview yesterday with Mario Nawfal, founder of IBC Group and host of The Roundtable Show on the X social network, Vučić said he has not personally met with Putin since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022.

- When we agreed that it was not done in accordance with international public law, I have not seen Putin for three years - Vučić points out.

However, he claims that many leaders maintain communication behind the scenes.

- I know at least two major leaders who have spoken with him secretly - because, of course, I still have friends in the Kremlin and in some other countries - Vučić added.

Although he did not name the leaders who allegedly spoke with Putin, he emphasized that they were not Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, or Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who have not hidden their contacts with the Russian president.

Vučić announced that he will meet with Putin on May 9 during a visit to Moscow to mark Victory Day, which celebrates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

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He also recalled his last meeting with Putin at the end of 2021, a few weeks before hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv broke out.

- After I left Putin's office, I publicly stated that I expected very difficult times... Nobody believed me - Vučić stated.

He explained that the Russian leader usually speaks at length about events in post-Soviet republics, but this time the topic was exhausted in just 45 seconds.

- I knew he had made a decision - Vučić assures.

Nehammer had a personal meeting with Putin in April 2022 regarding the conflict in Ukraine, later saying it was "not a friendly visit." Orbán visited Russia in July 2024 to promote what he called a "peace mission."

Meanwhile, talks between Putin and Fico in December focused on Ukraine's refusal to extend the gas transit agreement with Russia, which was a key issue for Slovakia, highly dependent on Russian energy.

US President Donald Trump also participated in talks with Putin to try to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.