A notable cultural resemblance between Russia and Serbia, embedded in Slavic identity and Eastern Orthodoxy, makes these two countries almost natural allies and unconditional mutual supporters. Popular widespread opinions, at least in Serbia, suggest that Russians and Serbs share everlasting cultural and historical bonds that become especially highlighted during crises. Russo-Serbian friendship has been romanticized among nationalistic circles in both countries and has been exploited by opportunistic leaders when the circumstances allow it.
Officials in Moscow and Belgrade have been far more pragmatic in their foreign policy moves, to such an extent that the Russo-Serbian friendship has remained in the public discourse in name only. Both countries pursue their own interests whereas social sentiments based on shared historic and emotional narratives are effectively used by political elites whose main goal is to maintain and secure power within their societies.
Recent Russo-Ukrainian conflict has also revealed the pragmatic side of relations between Moscow and Belgrade. Serbian officials have been trying to juggle between the leading actors present in the Balkans, the West, Russia and China, in order to preserve their own position and their own interests , which occasionally align with the interests of the state.
Serbia has not officially adopted this foreign policy strategy , thus leaving space for greater maneuver and less accountability for state representatives. However, the Serbian government calculated that the decision of not imposing sanctions on Russia would bring more benefits despite the increased pressure from the EU, and this move has little to do with the friendship narrative. First of all, Serbia has secured a three-year uninterrupted flow of gas from Russia under preferential terms that concurrently has brought political points to the ruling leadership for securing domestic energy needs, and has situated the country as a gas exporter to neighboring states.
Numerous business-oriented Russians, mostly from the IT sector, have established companies in the country and thus revived the underdeveloped domestic market , while the aviation sector has experienced increased profits due to frequent and unrestricted Moscow-Belgrade flights. For instance, Serbia supported not only a UN resolution denouncing Russian aggression against Ukraine but also refused to recognize the Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory.
