MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 9, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “KREMLIN PRESS OFFICE” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY) SHOTLIST: 1. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND SERBIAN PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER VUCIC WALKING TOWARD TABLE IN ROOM 2. PUTIN, VUCIC AND OFFICIALS TAKING SEAT AT TABLE 3. VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, VUCIC AND DELEGATIONS SITTING AT TABLE, PUTIN SPEAKING AS OTHERS LISTEN TO HIM MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 9, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “KREMLIN PRESS OFFICE” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met at Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Friday, May 9, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations. Putin thanked Vucic for attending despite "attempts to dissuade" him, calling it a "shared celebration" of their nations' wartime alliance. He noted the 1944 Belgrade Offensive, where Soviet and Yugoslav forces jointly liberated the city. The leaders discussed bilateral ties, with Putin acknowledging a recent trade decline and stressing the need to boost economic cooperation. He highlighted Russia’s role as Serbia’s key energy supplier, providing 85% of its gas via the Turkish Stream pipeline. Vucic thanked Russia for favorable gas terms and expressed hope for further improvements. "We can expand cooperation in all areas," he said, also emphasizing joint efforts against "historical revisionism."