Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Belgrade on Friday for his first official visit to Serbia since taking office in 2019. The visit, which included an honour guard welcome on Saturday and a formal meeting at the Presidential Palace, sees Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attempting to navigate a complex diplomatic path.
By hosting the Ukrainian leader with significant ceremony, Vučić is sending a clear signal to both the European Union and Russia.
During a joint press briefing, the two leaders discussed the ongoing war. President Vučić expressed his hope for an end to the conflict, though he admitted his skepticism regarding a near-term resolution.
"If you ask me, and as a political veteran, I can tell you that I’m not sure about it, and I’m very much afraid that we’ll have another difficult winter," Vučić stated.
He added that he hopes for a swift conclusion, even without concrete evidence that one is imminent. As part of the diplomatic visit, the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Serbia formalized a Memorandum of Understanding.
The meeting highlights the difficult position of Serbia, one of the few European nations maintaining close ties with Moscow following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While Belgrade relies heavily on Russia for energy, it faces ongoing pressure from the EU to align with the bloc's foreign policy.
Vučić reiterated that Serbia will not impose tougher sanctions on Russia, though the country has provided humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine.
The visit coincides with an escalation of violence in Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted that Russian forces launched overnight attacks on Kyiv, resulting in at least three deaths, including a child, and multiple injuries. The Ukrainian president described the use of ballistic missiles and attack drones targeting energy infrastructure and railways.
Addressing the state of Ukraine's defense, Zelenskyy emphasized that while agreements for weapon distribution exist, current supplies are insufficient.
Zelenskyy pointed to the United States as the primary manufacturer and supplier of necessary ballistic missile systems, noting that while agreements are in place, the volume of deliveries is not enough. Furthermore, the Ukrainian leader stated that the supply of air defense systems from foreign partners has decreased in 2026 compared to the previous year.
He urged European nations to increase their contributions and highlighted that the administrative process for obtaining certain licenses has been slow.
Despite reports in US media regarding dwindling weapons stockpiles—claims which President Donald Trump has denied—Zelenskyy remains focused on securing the necessary support to defend against ongoing Russian aggression.
"There was another missile strike last night—ballistic missiles targeting our infrastructure. There were also attack drones. In particular, reactive Shahed drones were again targeting our energy facilities and railways," Zelenskyy said during the joint press conference with Vučić.
"We say the Americans have to provide them, but the Europeans too—we’re working it out with them. The process for some of these licenses is also taking a long time. And that’s the truth," the Ukrainian president said.
