BELGRADE, Serbia

 Imposing sanctions on Russia would cost Serbia dearly, Aleksandar Vucic, the country's president who recently won a second term, said on Sunday.

In a statement to TV Pink, Vucic said his personal views on Russia-Ukraine conflict differ from the official view of the Serbian state.

"Russia has been supporting Serbia's territorial integrity since 2001. Whether Serbia imposes sanctions on Russia or not, it costs Serbia dearly. I believe that we will get Russian gas at a more affordable price compared to other countries in Europe," he added.

Serbia, which is almost entirely dependent on Russian gas and oil, has come under criticism for declaring neutrality in Russia’s war on Ukraine and refusing to impose sanctions on Moscow.

"This war also affects Serbia. Our duty is to act in accordance with public international law and to respect principles," he said.

The president earlier met Russian envoy Aleksandar Bocan-Kharchenko, and emphasized that Serbia, on its European path, will continue to "preserve traditional friendships and partnerships with Russia and China."

The meeting discussed the further development of Serbia-Russia ties, including in the field of energy, with the expectation that talks on the quantities, prices, and other conditions of gas supply will begin soon.

In response to Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that gas sales to “unfriendly” countries would have to be paid in rubles.

Russia deems countries that have hit it with sanctions over its "special military operation" as unfriendly. The list includes the US, UK, European countries and some of their Asian allies.