Zelensky Visits Serbia Amid Tensions Over Russia Sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Serbia for a significant visit, the first by a Ukrainian head of state in eight years. Serbia remains one of the few European nations not to have imposed sanctions on Russia and is often perceived as having pro-Russian leanings in the Balkans.

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We did not discuss any military cooperation today and at the present time; what will happen after the war ends is another matter. As for killing, I hope the killing will stop... We will open a drone factory here in September, but we are doing it with Israelis; we are doing it with Israelis. Ukrainians are very successful and have many of their own drone factories.

The official agenda for Zelensky's visit centered on discussions between the two presidents regarding Serbia's European Union aspirations, economic and energy collaboration, and infrastructure projects. However, speculation arose about whether military cooperation was also on the table, particularly given Serbia's defense industry and Ukraine's ongoing conflict.

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We still need more money so that our defense industry can produce twice as much as it produces today. These are huge sums of money, billions are involved. Today the president asked me, I shared it with him, I will not reveal it to the media today, but Ukraine does not have as much money as Russia uses for its war. We will not have it; what we have and what we need, we have with the help of other countries.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić explicitly denied any discussions about military cooperation, stating that Serbia would open a drone factory with Israeli partners in September. He noted that while Ukraine is successful in drone manufacturing, it requires substantial funding, with Russia's war spending far exceeding Ukraine's capacity. Zelensky acknowledged the financial challenges, mentioning that Ukraine relies on aid from other countries to sustain its defense efforts.

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I cannot give serious assessments or assumptions about whether the war will end soon or not so soon; without a doubt, I believe, and the entire international community, including Serbia, our entire nation, would like this war to end as soon as possible.

During a joint press conference, neither president mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin by name. However, a Ukrainian journalist directly questioned Zelensky about Putin's motives for continuing the war and potential readiness for negotiations. Vučić responded that he could not offer definitive predictions on the war's end but expressed a shared hope with the international community and Serbia for a swift conclusion. Both leaders acknowledged their countries' shared goal of EU membership, framing themselves as partners rather than rivals on this path, though Zelensky highlighted Ukraine's wartime urgency compared to Serbia's perceived skepticism.

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It is not just reality and not just enthusiasm in choosing the European Union and choosing that path. I understand Aleksandar's skepticism, which he shared with me in detail last night. Ukraine simply does not have time for skepticism or anything else. We are at war. In that war, we are defending our independence and our vision of what Ukraine should be in the future. It is simply a step chosen by the state and the people together.