Zelenskyy visits Serbia, a country with close ties to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia on Friday for his first visit since taking office, a trip that a senior Ukrainian official described as a "slap in the face to the Russians." Serbia is one of the few European nations maintaining close ties with Moscow.

Zelenskyy met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for dinner on Friday and is scheduled for further discussions on Saturday at the presidential palace. On the social platform X, Zelenskyy stated the talks are "extremely important" and will cover expanded economic relations, EU integration, and security.

The Ukrainian president has been on a global tour seeking support following Russia's 2022 invasion. Serbia, however, has navigated a delicate balance with its historical ally, Russia, relying on cheap gas and resisting EU-backed sanctions. This stance has caused friction with the EU, which Serbia aims to join.

Despite the close political and cultural ties, the relationship with Russia is not without its issues. Moscow has accused Serbian companies of selling ammunition to Ukraine, claims Vucic has repeatedly denied. While Serbia has provided non-military aid to Ukraine and Vucic has engaged in regional summits and visited Kyiv, he has not formally endorsed Ukraine's war effort against Russia. Zelenskyy and Vucic are expected to hold a joint press conference on Saturday.

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We must discuss expanded economic relations between our countries, relations with the EU, other areas that can benefit our countries, and security.