Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to make his first official visit to Serbia on Saturday, a move that highlights the complex geopolitical landscape of the Balkans.
Serbia, a candidate for European Union membership, has maintained friendly relations with Russia despite Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. President Aleksandar Vucic's office announced the visit late Thursday, though Zelenskyy's office had not yet officially confirmed it.
Vucic has navigated a delicate balance, preserving Serbia's traditional ties with Moscow while facing pressure to align its foreign policy with the EU. Serbia has refused to join international sanctions against Russia, citing historical connections between the two Slavic nations. The country relies heavily on Russia for energy supplies.
Serbia's path to EU membership has been complicated by its policies toward Moscow. Despite not sanctioning Russia, Belgrade has provided aid to Ukraine and Vucic has increased contact with Kyiv, an apparent effort to improve his standing in the West. Russia has previously accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine through NATO member states, a move Moscow described as a "stab in the back." Serbia has also pledged to assist in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction.
Ahead of the visit, Vucic stated that he and Zelenskyy would discuss cooperation in various sectors and their respective countries' progress toward EU membership. Vucic reiterated Serbia's stance on sanctions, confirming that the country's policy has not changed and is expected to remain so for the time being. Russia has faced widespread international condemnation and sanctions since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Analysts suggest the visit holds potential political benefits for both leaders. According to Djordje Vlajic, a senior editor at the independent Fonet news agency in Belgrade, Zelenskyy aims to signal to Russia that he is engaging with its key allies in the Balkans. Vucic, meanwhile, seeks to maintain a connection with the EU and convey to Brussels that he shares the bloc's position on the war.
Serbia's relationship with the EU has faced scrutiny, with suggestions that Belgrade could lose access to EU funds and stall its membership bid due to its ties with Moscow and what critics describe as democratic backsliding under Vucic. These concerns have been exacerbated by recent youth-led protests in Serbia following a deadly train station disaster in November 2024.
Zelenskyy and Vucic have met on multiple occasions since the start of the Russian invasion. Vucic previously traveled to Ukraine twice to attend summits supporting Kyiv's defense against Russian aggression, but on both occasions, he declined to sign joint declarations calling for stricter sanctions against Moscow.