Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Serbia on Saturday for his first official visit to the country. He opened talks with Belgrade as Kyiv seeks to strengthen international support while Russian attacks intensify.
According to AFP, Zelensky was scheduled to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the presidential palace after spending Friday evening with him. The visit comes shortly after another overnight Russian bombardment of Kyiv and its surrounding region killed at least three people. It also injured several others.
Zelensky Serbia visit puts spotlight on Belgrade-Moscow ties
The Zelensky Serbia visit is particularly significant because Serbia remains one of the few European countries maintaining close relations with Russia.
Belgrade has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow despite pressure from the European Union. This position has complicated Serbia’s efforts to join the bloc.
Vucic has repeatedly defended that stance and said this week that his position on sanctions against Russia had not changed.
Zelensky said discussions would focus on economic cooperation, Serbia’s relationship with the European Union and security matters.
“We will discuss expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, other areas that can benefit our nations, and security issues,” he wrote on X.
The two leaders were also expected to address journalists following their meeting.
Serbia balances ties with Russia and Ukraine
Although Serbia depends heavily on Russian gas and Vucic has continued to maintain contact with Moscow, Belgrade has also provided non-military assistance to Ukraine.
Russia has previously accused Serbian companies of supplying ammunition that eventually reached Ukraine. However, Vucic has denied that Serbia directly sold weapons to Kyiv.
The Serbian leader attended a regional summit in Ukraine in 2025 and also visited Kyiv earlier this year. He has offered assistance to Ukraine but has stopped short of fully aligning Serbia with Western measures against Russia.
Zelensky, meanwhile, has travelled extensively since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. He is seeking military, financial and diplomatic support from governments around the world.
Saturday’s trip marked his first visit to Serbia since becoming Ukrainian president in 2019.
Russian strikes hit Kyiv during diplomatic push
Zelensky’s visit came as Ukraine faced another night of Russian attacks.
Authorities said three people, including a child, were killed in the Brovary district northeast of Kyiv. Several others were injured in Kyiv and surrounding areas.
Falling debris damaged homes and vehicles and caused fires. Ukraine’s emergency services reported that a two-storey building and vehicles were destroyed in the village of Pukhivka.
Ukraine’s military also warned residents about the threat of ballistic missiles as explosions were heard across the capital.
Russia has intensified attacks on Kyiv in recent months, increasingly using ballistic missiles that Ukraine says are difficult to intercept.
Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to its allies for additional US-made Patriot air defence systems. At the same time, Ukraine has also increased long-range drone attacks against targets inside Russia.
With peace efforts largely stalled, Zelensky’s trip to Serbia represents another attempt to widen Ukraine’s diplomatic reach. This includes among countries that have maintained strong historical and economic ties with Moscow.
