Vucic visits Ukraine for the first time – regional summit held in Odesa

Vucic Visits Ukraine for the First Time in 12 Years – Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit Held in Odesa

The Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa hosted a major diplomatic event today. Initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the "Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit" brought together leaders from 12 countries in the region.

One of the key highlights of the summit was the visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Ukraine. This marks Vucic’s first official visit to the country during his 12-year presidency. Known for his close ties with Moscow, Vucic attended the summit for one day, participating in joint events with other leaders, shaking hands with Zelenskyy, posing for photos, and speaking at a press conference.

In his remarks to the media, Vucic emphasized Serbia’s commitment to international law:

"Serbia will always remain faithful to the UN Charter and international law. That means we support the territorial integrity of UN-recognized countries," Vucic said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the impact of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and called for international assistance:

"Due to attacks on storage facilities, gas infrastructure, and production sites, we are supporting the private sector with funding and loans. At the same time, we are asking partner countries for help in injecting additional gas into our storage facilities," Zelenskyy noted.

As part of the summit, leaders laid wreaths at a memorial honoring fallen Ukrainian soldiers. During the traditional family photo session, Zelenskyy was seen alongside Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Romanian President Nicusor Dan, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Although Serbia recognizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity — including areas occupied by Russia since 2014 — it has refrained from joining Western sanctions against Moscow. Conversely, Ukraine does not recognize Kosovo, Serbia’s former southern province that declared independence in 2008.

The summit is seen as an important political platform for strengthening regional cooperation between Ukraine and Southeast European countries, particularly in the fields of energy security and joint action.

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