Russia plans new Balkan gas supply routes sidestepping Ukraine
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Russia and Serbia are discussing new gas supply routes through the Balkans to bypass Ukraine, strengthening Serbia’s role as a transit hub for Russian Gas to Europe.
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A view of NIS Jugopetrol oil refinery in Pancevo, Serbia, on December 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Russian gas exports to Europe could soon follow new routes through the Balkans as Moscow and Belgrade discuss building additional pipelines to bypass Ukraine. A report by Izvestia on Tuesday stated that the move comes after Kiev halted Russian fuel transit at the start of 2025, forcing Hungary and Slovakia to rely solely on the Turkish Stream pipeline via Serbia.
According to Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy, Belgrade aims to continue receiving as much gas as possible from Russia through the Balkan Stream, which already delivers over 80% of the country’s supply in 2025. In 2024, that figure reached a record 93%.
The report mentioned that a potential new gas pipeline linking Serbia to Hungary is under discussion between Gazprom, Serbiyagaz, and the Serbian government. The route could also increase supplies to Slovakia and Austria.
Serbia’s role as a transit hub for Russian Gas has grown since other export corridors, such as Nord Stream and Yamal-Europe, were shut down in 2022 due to political disputes and sabotage.
Ukraine transit halt reshapes European trade routes
With Ukraine refusing to extend its transit contract, Central European countries are now entirely dependent on gas flows through the Turkish Stream and Serbia. Pumping volumes through this route rose 7% in the first half of 2025 to 8.3 billion cubic meters.
The report mentions that Kiev and Brussels have expressed intentions to cut off Russian gas flows via Turkish Stream entirely. In January, Ukrainian drones attempted to attack a Russian compressor station that feeds the route.
The European Union aims to phase out Russian energy imports by 2027, a target that adds risk to new long-term infrastructure investments. Meanwhile, Serbia faces pressure from both Brussels and Washington to diversify supplies and join sanctions on Russia.
However, chief economist at TotalEnergies, Thomas-Olivier Leautier, says that Europe could restart importing Russian gas as soon as the Russia-Ukraine war comes to an end. "One way, shape or form, once the peace is signed, there will be gas flowing, certainly not at the level where it was not healthy for us, but there will be some Russian gas," Leautier said.
Despite this, Serbian officials say they will continue a “sovereign” energy policy. Talks are underway to liberalize the gas market, potentially increasing imports from Azerbaijan or LNG from the US via Turkey and Bulgaria.
Alongside the gas discussions, oil and gas cooperation is expanding. Moscow, Belgrade, and Budapest are assessing the feasibility of a Serbia-Hungary oil pipeline connecting Novi Sad to Szeged and linking with the Druzhba system. The 180 km route, with a capacity of 3 million tons per year, could be operational by 2027.
Serbia currently imports most of its oil via Croatia’s Janaf pipeline. Officials say the new link would cut transport costs, bypass transit risks, and improve energy security.
