Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky making first official visit to Russia-friendly Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will on Saturday make his first official visit to Serbia, one of the few European countries that have maintained friendly relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.The office of Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vučić announced the visit late Thursday.Zelensky’s office has not officially confirmed his trip to Belgrade.The visit comes as Vučić tries to balance Serbia’s traditional ties with Moscow against pressure to align its foreign policy with the European Union.

Vučić has refused to join international sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, citing historic ties between the two Slavic nations.Serbia is in the process of joining the EU, but that has been stalled partly because of Belgrade’s policies toward Moscow.Serbia relies almost entirely on Russia for its energy supplies.Although Belgrade has refused to sanction Russia, it has provided aid to Ukraine and Vučić has recently stepped up contacts with Kyiv, in an apparent bid to boost his image in the West.Russia last year accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine through NATO member states, describing the move as a “stab in the back.” Serbia also has promised to help rebuild Ukraine after the war.Ahead of the visit, Vučić said he and Zelensky will discuss cooperation in various fields and their countries’ paths toward EU membership.

Vučić said Serbia does not intend to change its position on Russia sanctions.“As far as sanctions are concerned, let me tell you directly: Serbia has established its policy,” Vučić said on Friday.He added that Serbia’s stand “has not changed and this will remain so for the time being.”Russia has faced international condemnation and sanctions since it launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Djordje Vlajic, a senior editor at the independent Fonet news agency in Belgrade, believes that both Vučić and Zelensky aim to make political gains from the Belgrade ...