Ukraine's Zelenskyy makes first visit to Russia-friendly Serbia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic have met several times in the past, often on the sidelines of multilateral conferences, and most recently on July 15, 2026, in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

On Friday, Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia for his first official state visit to the country.

The talks, however, are likely to require careful political balancing. Despite Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, Serbia remains widely regarded as Europe's most pro-Russian country.

There have recently been several signs of closer ties between Belgrade and Kyiv. Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, visited Belgrade two years ago. But a trip by the Ukrainian president has been postponed several times.

For Vucic, who has ruled Serbia with an iron fist for the past 14 years, the visit is a balancing act ahead of crucial parliamentary elections. A student-led protest movement plans to field its own electoral list, with a realistic chance of seriously challenging Vucic for the first time. The president has been accused of corruption and of exerting control over the media and judiciary.

According to opinion polls, the majority of Vucic's loyal supporters side with Russia and oppose Serbia joining the European Union. Pro-government media outlets, such as the tabloid Informer, have openly backed Moscow in the war.

Nevertheless, Vucic has portrayed Zelenskyy's trip as an ordinary state visit, saying: "We have several important issues to discuss. One is Ukraine's and Serbia's path toward Europe; the second is our bilateral and energy cooperation."

Observers expect the meeting to prove mutually beneficial. "Zelenskyy welcomes anything that comes across as a kind of slap in the face for [Russian President] Putin ," political analyst and pollster Djordje Vukadinovic told DW. "That also applies to the European Union, which certainly played a role in making this meeting happen."