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Serbia's Moscow-Friendly President Visits Ukraine but Refuses to Sign 'Anti-Russian' Declaration
- On June 11, 2025, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić traveled to Ukraine for the first time during his presidency to attend a regional summit in Odesa hosted by President Zelenskyy.
- Vučić’s visit followed Serbia’s three-year official neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, during which Belgrade avoided Western sanctions and maintained close ties with Moscow despite tensions.
- At the summit, Vučić reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity while refusing to sign the final declaration condemning Russia’s invasion, citing Serbia’s position against further sanctions on Moscow.
- Vučić urged intensified Russia-Ukraine dialogue and greater diplomatic efforts, and suggested Serbia could help reconstruct Ukraine’s war-damaged regions; Zelenskyy welcomed the engagement and Serbia’s support.
- The visit highlights Vučić’s balancing act between Moscow and Brussels as Serbia seeks EU accession amid complex geopolitical pressures and accusations of Serbian-made arms appearing in the conflict.
55 Articles
55 Articles
For political scientist Nemanja Todorovic Stiplija, the Serbian president is engaged in a "disequilibrium" diplomacy, between shy support to Kyiv to please Brussels and the desire not to fry Russia.
At the Ukraine - Southeast Europe Summit held in Odessa, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, among other things, offered that Serbia "rebuild one or two cities or a smaller region in Ukraine and thereby provide support to the citizens of that country." Vučić also stated on that occasion that he did not sign the declaration because it calls for the imposition of sanctions on Russia over the war.
Is Serbia pivoting towards Ukraine?
In this episode of Europe in :60, Carl Bildt breaks down Serbia’s evolving foreign policy, and political developments in Poland.After President Vučić’s visit to Ukraine, Bildt notes, “I think he is in the black book of the Kremlin because of that particular visit,” highlighting shifting alliances in the Balkans. On Poland, following Donald Tusk’s post-election confidence vote, Bildt explains the challenges ahead: “The president can veto legislat…
The Ukrainian President thanked and expressed his gratitude to Serbia for the assistance provided to his country on his social media page. The two politicians spoke about mutual support on the path to the EU, bilateral cooperation, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Praise Ukraine and don't lose the Russian audience at home: how Serbia's President Vučić tries to reconcile incompatibilities on his first visit to Ukraine.
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