Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Zelenskyy visits Serbia for first time to court Moscow ally
The president of Ukraine is a man named Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He visited Serbia for the very first time since he became president.
Serbia is a country in Europe that is still friends with Russia.
Russia is fighting a war against Ukraine, so many countries are angry with Russia.
But Serbia says it will not punish Russia, and its leader, Aleksandar Vucic, says that decision will not change.
Zelenskyy and Vucic talked about trading with each other, joining a big club of European countries called the European Union, and staying safe.
Ukraine hopes Serbia will become less close to Russia.
Serbia needs cheap gas from Russia to heat homes, which is one reason it wants to stay friendly.
At the same time as this visit, Russia attacked Ukraine's capital area and killed or hurt some people, including a child.
Serbia has helped Ukraine in non-fighting ways, but it says it has not given Ukraine weapons.
Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia for his first visit to the country since becoming president in 2019, for two days of talks in Belgrade.
Discussions with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic focus on expanding economic cooperation, European Union relations, and security issues.
Serbia has refused to impose sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, a position Vucic says has been unchanged for nearly five years.
A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv's objective is to 'pull the Serbs away from Russia's side,' while Serbia remains heavily dependent on inexpensive Russian gas.
The visit coincided with Russian overnight strikes on the Kyiv region that killed at least three people, including a child, and wounded seven.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
- What
- Zelenskyy's first visit to Serbia, focused on economic cooperation, European Union relations, and security, as Ukraine seeks backing from a Moscow ally
- When
- Friday, with two days of meetings planned in Belgrade; one report describes the first official visit as beginning Saturday
- Where
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Why
- Ukraine wants to deepen ties and 'pull the Serbs away from Russia's side,' while both countries seek European Union membership
Ukraine and EU Allies
Serbia and Russia
Sanctions on Russia
Ukraine and EU Allies
Zelenskyy, in line with his struggle, is expected to press Serbia to join international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Serbia and Russia
Vucic says Serbia set out its position against sanctions almost five years ago and will not change it until further notice.
Serbia's relationship with Russia
Ukraine and EU Allies
A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv's objective is to 'pull the Serbs away from Russia's side,' and described the visit as 'a slap in the face for the Russians.'
Serbia and Russia
Serbia maintains its longstanding relationship with Moscow, depends on inexpensive Russian gas, and Vucic has been among the few European leaders to continue visiting Moscow.
Munitions supply accusation
Ukraine and EU Allies
The Kremlin has accused Serbia of supplying munitions to Ukraine.
Serbia and Russia
Vucic has repeatedly rejected the claim that Serbia supplied munitions to Ukraine.
- Visiting leader
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
- Host
- Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia
- Location
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Meeting duration
- Two days
- Discussion topics
- Economic cooperation, European Union relations, security
- Serbia's sanctions stance
- Refuses to impose sanctions on Russia; position set almost five years ago and unchanged
- Ukraine's objective
- To 'pull the Serbs away from Russia's side'
- Coinciding attacks
- Overnight Russian strikes on the Kyiv region killed at least three people, including a child, and wounded seven