Serbia will continue to support Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity while seeking closer economic cooperation between the two countries, President Aleksandar Vučić said on Saturday, stopping short of pledging sanctions against Belgrade’s long-time ally Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is concluding a two-day visit to Belgrade, his first since taking office in 2019. His wife, Olena Zelenska, visited the Serbian capital in 2024.
Vučić, who faces possible early elections in the coming months, has sought to balance Serbia’s ambition to join the European Union with its historic and economic ties to Moscow.
Serbia condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow. The country also remains heavily dependent on Russia for its gas supplies.
Vučić, who has met Zelenskyy several times, most recently in Kyiv on 15 July, said Serbia would continue to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including territories seized by Russia since 2014.
Ukraine, for its part, has not recognised Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence. Belgrade considers Kosovo part of Serbia.
“You have never heard a single bad word about our country, neither from Volodymyr Zelenskyy nor anyone else in Ukraine, and I am extremely grateful to our Ukrainian friends for that,” Vucic said.
He also said he was sceptical that either Serbia or Ukraine would secure rapid accession to the European Union, but reaffirmed Belgrade’s support for Kyiv’s membership bid.
Vučić and Zelenskyy said both countries want to strengthen economic cooperation and complete a free trade agreement by the end of the year.
The agreement is important for Serbia’s bid to join the World Trade Organisation and is also a prerequisite for European Union membership.
Ukraine has blocked the deal since 2005 because of disputes over quotas and tariffs affecting its agricultural sector.
Zelenskyy said the two leaders discussed joint infrastructure projects as well as cooperation on energy and food security ahead of the winter, as Ukraine continues to face Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
“We are developing all formats of cooperation which can give our people ... more resilience,” Zelenskyy said.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Belgrade of selling ammunition to Ukraine through intermediaries.
Serbia has denied supplying ammunition directly to Ukraine, while acknowledging that it has sold ammunition to buyers in other countries.
Vučić said military cooperation was not discussed during his talks with Zelenskyy.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1st September, covering the latest developments.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
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The United Nations has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is rapidly worsening, calling for a large-scale international response as violence in the east of the country continues to complicate efforts to contain the virus.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday that NATO member Türkiye could seek full membership in the China- and Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
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