Zelensky makes first official visit to Serbia, meets with Vučić

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is paying his first official visit to Serbia, a move that draws attention given Belgrade's longstanding close relationship with Moscow and its continued refusal to join Western sanctions against Russia.

During the visit, Zelensky is working to reinforce international backing for Ukraine at a time when Russian strikes against Ukrainian territory have been intensifying. On Friday evening, he met Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for dinner, with formal bilateral talks between the two leaders scheduled for Saturday.

Why the visit matters

Serbia has long pursued a balanced foreign policy, seeking to maintain ties with both the West and Russia while declining to impose sanctions on Moscow. That stance makes Zelensky's trip a particularly significant diplomatic moment.

Helena Ivanov, Associate Research Fellow at The Henry Jackson Society, offered analysis on the visit's significance, noting that Vučić must perform a delicate balancing act between Serbia's existing ties to Russia and his desire to maintain constructive relations with Ukraine and the West.