Serbia will provide additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine but declined to sign a regional call for continued security support and increased pressure on Russia, according to President Aleksandar Vucic. The visit to Kyiv marked the first by a Serbian leader in over a decade.
Serbia's stance highlights the complex geopolitical balancing act faced by countries with historical ties to Russia as they navigate international pressure regarding the conflict in Ukraine. The decision impacts regional solidarity and Serbia's own EU accession aspirations.
Serbia will provide additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine but has refused to join a regional call for continued security support and increased pressure on Russia, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Vucic met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv and participated in the Southeastern Europe-Ukraine summit, marking the first visit by a Serbian leader to the Ukrainian capital in over a decade.
Despite close historical ties with Moscow and its status as Russia's biggest gas supplier, Serbia has repeatedly condemned Russia's actions at the United Nations and supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. Vucic stated that Serbia would not sign the summit's joint declaration, which advocated for sustained political, military, financial, and security assistance to Ukraine and greater pressure on Russia. Serbia, however, affirmed its support for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.
Serbia has previously donated approximately 60 million euros in non-lethal and non-military aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. Moscow has previously accused Belgrade of selling ammunition to Ukraine via intermediaries, a claim Belgrade has denied, stating it sells to buyers worldwide. Vucic's visit followed a conference of EU candidate countries in Belgrade, where Ukraine's parliament speaker accused Moscow of aggression.