Key facts
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Serbia on August 8.
- This marks Zelensky's first visit to Serbia since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Serbia has maintained close ties with Russia and has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow.
- The visit is seen as symbolic, aiming to strengthen cooperation and potentially shift Serbia's alignment.
- Zelensky previously proposed the Carpathian Initiative, a regional platform involving Serbia and other European countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to make his first visit to Serbia on August 8, a development confirmed by the Serbian President's press office and reported by Ukrainian officials. This trip carries significant symbolic weight, as Serbia has traditionally maintained close relations with Russia and has notably refrained from imposing sanctions on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Sources indicate that the visit is intended to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and Serbia, potentially drawing Serbia away from Russia's sphere of influence. Ukrainian officials have described the visit as a "slap in the face for the Russians." Zelensky has previously outlined the "Carpathian Initiative," a regional platform designed to foster cooperation among Ukraine, Serbia, and six other European countries in areas such as economy, security, logistics, tourism, and the reconstruction of Ukraine, with support from the European Union. This initiative aims to engage countries that may not be ready to supply weapons but wish to contribute in other capacities.
President Zelensky last visited Odesa in June 2025 for a Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit, and also visited Kyiv on July 15, 2025, for Ukraine's Statehood Day, where Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was present. Serbia formally seeks European Union membership, but its continued warm ties with Moscow have drawn criticism from Brussels. Reports have also surfaced regarding Serbia's indirect supply of arms to Ukraine, though President Vučić publicly denied such claims in May 2025.