The EU has signed a EUR 165 mln grant agreement with Serbia to help the nation wean itself of Russian energy. The funding from a broader EU package for aspirants in the western Balkans will back state subsidies for households and small businesses, boost competition in the gas and electricity markets and enhance efficiency, president Vucic said at a ceremony in Belgrade on Tuesday. Serbia has condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine but declined to join EU sanctions against the Kremlin. Vucic’s once-close ties with Vladimir Putin have strained, and Serbia is seeking to replace some natural gas imports from the dominant Gazprom with other sources.