German media: Zelenskyy's Serbia visit may signal joint drone production

German media reports suggest Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's upcoming visit to Serbia might signal a potential joint venture in drone production. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the visit, initially planned long ago but repeatedly postponed, is viewed as a significant political gesture, particularly given Serbia's historically pro-Russian stance.

Despite official discussions focusing primarily on economic matters, German outlets like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung hint at defense sector cooperation, including the possibility of joint drone manufacturing, potentially financed by the United Arab Emirates. The visit occurs while Serbia maintains strong ties with Russia, a situation highlighted by journalist Michael Martens, who notes that Serbia shows more sympathy for Russia and President Vladimir Putin than many other European nations.

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The United States began to support the purchase of significant quantities of Serbian ammunition, which we knew Ukraine urgently needed.

Former US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, shared insights into how the US facilitated Serbian arms supplies to Ukraine. He explained that in 2022, the Ukrainian ambassador provided a list of urgently needed military supplies, and the US embassy verified Serbia's capacity to fulfill these orders. "The United States began to support the purchase of significant quantities of Serbian ammunition, which we knew Ukraine urgently needed," Hill stated.

Hill also emphasized that the US aimed to ensure Serbia's involvement did not appear as "war profiteering" but was linked to long-standing Serbian-Ukrainian relations based on shared interests. He added that the US prioritized monitoring Serbia's activities to ensure no significant arms sales occurred with Russia, a concern that had reportedly even been raised by President Putin directly with Serbian leadership. Ultimately, Hill confirmed that, to the best of his knowledge, there were no substantial arms sales from Serbia to Russia.

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The United States began to support the purchase of significant quantities of Serbian ammunition, which we knew Ukraine urgently needed.