In a discourse on energy arrangements between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia, Dusko Perovic, who oversees BiH’s representation in Moscow, highlighted Republika Srpska’s willingness to settle gas payments in rubles. He noted that the current understanding is governed by Gazprom’s annual renewal of the main agreement, which means BiH receives gas at market prices but calculated under the historical pricing formula. According to his assessment, the move to ruble payments is a practical matter rather than a political stance, reflecting broader financial frictions that have emerged in international transfers. He explained that payments are technically feasible but hindered by delays in transfers routed through correspondent banks, a consequence of the banking sector’s evolving sanctions and compliance environment.
Perovic, who has previously served in the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, described ongoing steps toward negotiating a gas supply pipeline from Russia to BiH. The objective is to secure a dedicated route for Russian gas, with the process already greenlit by BiH’s Council of Ministers to initiate formal talks. He stressed that, in contrast to earlier dialogues conducted within the Russia–Bosnia and Herzegovina intergovernmental framework, the forthcoming negotiations will be coordinated through Serbia. This shift reflects BiH’s integration into the Serbian pipeline transit network, which may streamline delivery mechanisms and enhance transit efficiency for gas shipments reaching BiH. The conversations are framed as a practical evolution of regional energy cooperation, aiming to align BiH’s future gas supply with nearby transit corridors while preserving market-based pricing.