Vučić and Zelensky exchange courteous messages amid sensitive military cooperation questions

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met, exchanging polite remarks regarding respect for each other's territorial integrity. Their discussions also covered the path toward European Union membership, a subject on which Vučić expressed skepticism while Zelensky remained optimistic.

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We will be glad if Serbia’s path to the European Union accelerates. Europe cannot afford to lose anyone.

The meeting, which included discussions on the consequences of Russian attacks, Serbian aid in medicines, and trade exchange, also skirted around the sensitive issue of military cooperation. Vučić stated that no military cooperation discussions took place on the day of the meeting, but added that "what happens after the war ends is another matter."

Adding complexity, Vučić mentioned Serbia's upcoming drone factory opening in September, developed in collaboration with Israel. This followed a report suggesting individuals close to Zelensky had toured potential drone production sites in Serbia, and that Serbian shells had reached Ukraine via intermediaries. Zelensky, meanwhile, indicated discussions with Vučić covered unspecified matters "not for the public" and expressed Ukraine's interest in acquiring air defense systems from Israel.

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Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić: We will open a drone factory here in September, but with the Israelis. We are doing this with the Israelis. The Ukrainians are very successful and have many of their own drone factories in this field, so we will invite you here for the…

Political analyst Aleksandar Ivković suggested that Ukraine's need for weapons amid the Russian aggression and Serbia's willingness to assist are Vučić's leverage in the West. He noted that any military cooperation agreement, potentially solidified four years prior, has primarily helped Vučić maintain good relations with the West and avoid significant criticism from the EU. Ivković interpreted the public downplaying of military cooperation during the visit as an effort to avoid alienating Vučić's domestic voter base.

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We are very often asked about Israel. We would also like to receive air defense from them. We would be ready to buy it. So far, we do not have that possibility, although we are in dialogue.