Zelenskyy to visit Serbia for the first time since the war began

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to make his first official visit to Serbia on Saturday, a move aimed at bolstering Kyiv's international support and potentially influencing Serbia's traditionally close relationship with Moscow. A high-ranking Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to Agence France-Presse, stated that the objective is to "pull the Serbs away from the Russian camp."

The official described Zelenskyy's visit as a "slap in the face for the Russians," asserting that it would challenge the notion of Serbia being exclusively within Russia's sphere of influence. This visit marks a significant diplomatic effort by Zelenskyy to broaden support for Ukraine as the conflict with Russia continues.

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we must pull the Serbs away from the Russian camp.

Serbia has maintained a delicate balancing act, preserving ties with Russia, particularly in energy supply, while also pursuing membership in the European Union. Unlike many European nations, Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This stance has often put Belgrade at odds with Western allies.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2025, a time when many European leaders were avoiding such engagements due to the war. Although Vučić later visited Ukraine, he notably refused to sign a joint declaration condemning Russia's "brutal war of aggression."

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a slap in the face for the Russians