Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to make his first official visit to Serbia this Saturday. The announcement regarding the upcoming trip was made by the office of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic late Thursday, although the Ukrainian side has not yet issued an official confirmation of the visit to Belgrade.
This diplomatic engagement is particularly notable as Serbia remains one of the few European nations to maintain friendly relations with Russia despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022. President Vucic has consistently navigated a complex path, attempting to balance Serbia’s traditional historical ties with Moscow against increasing pressure to align its foreign policy with the European Union. While Serbia is actively seeking EU membership, progress has been hindered in part by its refusal to impose international sanctions on Russia, a position Vucic reaffirmed on Friday by stating that the country’s policy remains unchanged for the time being.
Serbia relies heavily on Russia for its energy supplies, which is often cited as a factor in its foreign policy decisions. Nevertheless, Belgrade has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and has recently increased communication with Kyiv, a move interpreted by analysts as an attempt to improve Serbia's standing in the West. Additionally, Serbia has committed to assisting in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. These diplomatic maneuvers have not been without friction; last year, Russia accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine via NATO member states, labeling the alleged action a “stab in the back.”
Political analysts suggest the visit serves strategic interests for both leaders. Djordje Vlajic, a senior editor at the independent Fonet news agency, noted that Zelenskyy is likely signaling to Russia that he is engaging with its traditional allies in the Balkans. Conversely, Vucic appears to be using the visit to maintain dialogue with the European Union and demonstrate that he shares the bloc's perspective on the conflict. Although Vucic and Zelenskyy have met several times during the war—including twice when Vucic attended summits supporting Kyiv—the Serbian leader has consistently declined to sign joint declarations that explicitly call for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
