Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska visited Serbia on May 13, 2024. Serbia claims neutrality regarding the war in Ukraine. Reports suggest Serbia has delivered weapons to Ukraine through intermediary countries, even as it grows closer to China and Russia. The visit may indicate improving relations between Ukraine and Serbia, which has maintained a friendly relationship with Russia despite condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine. Kuleba’s visit to Russia-friendly Serbia marks a sign of warming relations between the two states, with Kuleba meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.
Serbia, although it has condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine, has refused to join international sanctions against Moscow and maintained warm relations with its traditional ally. The country proclaims neutrality on the war in Ukraine, claiming not to supply weapons to any parties directly. However, reports suggest that Serbia may have delivered weapons to Ukraine through intermediary countries. The visit of Kuleba and Zelenska, who toured the Serbian capital with Serbian first lady Tamara Vucic, was met with criticism in Moscow, with comments from readers in Russian state-run media deeming it “shameful.” In an apparent effort at damage control, Vucevic, following his talks with Kuleba, was set to meet the Russian ambassador to Belgrade and tour a large storage facility for Russian gas imported to Serbia.
Pro-Russian President Vucic has informally met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy multiple times on the sidelines of international conferences, and Serbia has provided humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine. Vucic has long claimed to follow a neutral policy, balancing ties between Moscow, Beijing, Brussels, and Washington. Despite emphasizing Serbia’s goal of seeking European Union membership, under Vucic’s rule, the country seems to be moving closer to Russia and China. During a recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade, China and Serbia signed an agreement to build “ironclad” relations and create a “shared joint future.”
The statement issued by the Serbian prime minister’s office following talks with Kuleba reiterated Serbia’s commitment to respecting international law and the territorial integrity of all United Nations member states, including Ukraine. The visit by the Ukrainian delegation comes amid reports of warming ties between Ukraine and Serbia, despite the latter’s close relations with Russia. Although Serbia has condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine, it has refrained from imposing sanctions on Moscow, instead maintaining a neutral stance on the conflict.
The visit by Kuleba and Zelenska to Serbia, marked by meetings with top Serbian officials, signals a potential shift in relations between the two countries. While Serbia has declared neutrality in the conflict in Ukraine, reports suggest the country may have facilitated the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. The visit was met with criticism from Moscow, but efforts at damage control were made, with Vucevic meeting the Russian ambassador and touring a facility for Russian gas imports. Despite maintaining a friendly relationship with Russia, Serbia appears to be balancing its ties with various global powers, including China, as seen in recent agreements signed during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
