Zelenskyy makes first official state visit to Russia-friendly Serbia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic have met several times before, most recently in Kyiv on July 15, 2026. On Friday, Zelenskyy traveled to Belgrade for his first official state visit — a trip that had been postponed multiple times in the past.

The visit takes place in a delicate political context. Serbia is still widely regarded as one of Europe's most pro-Russian countries, though recent signals point to warming ties with Kyiv. Vucic, who has led Serbia for 14 years, described the meeting as a routine state visit, citing discussion topics such as Ukraine's and Serbia's paths toward European integration, and bilateral and energy cooperation.

Analysts suggest the meeting could benefit both leaders. For Zelenskyy, it offers a symbolic jab at Russia, while for Vucic it's a chance to present himself as EU-friendly, especially after observing the fallout Hungary's Viktor Orban faced from Brussels.

Ammunition and economic interests

One likely goal of Zelenskyy's visit is securing continued Serbian ammunition supplies. Despite Serbia's refusal to join anti-Russian sanctions, large quantities of Serbian artillery shells have reached Ukraine through intermediaries — the Financial Times estimated such deliveries were worth around €1 billion in 2024. Reports also point to talks on a joint drone factory combining Ukrainian expertise, Serbian labor, and investment from the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, Russia has grown increasingly dissatisfied with Vucic, notably offering Serbia only short-term gas contracts, which has added economic uncertainty.

For Vucic, the visit comes at a tense pre-election moment. A student-led protest movement, which emerged after the deadly 2024 collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad that killed 16 people, could seriously challenge his rule in this fall's parliamentary elections, with some polls even placing the movement in the lead.

Within the EU, opinions remain divided on advancing Serbia's accession talks, and some observers believe Zelenskyy's visit could be used to push those talks forward despite ongoing concerns about rule of law in the country.