Overview
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj traveled to Belgrade for his first official visit and met Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to expand bilateral relations, including a signed declaration of intent on agriculture and food security.
- Both leaders said they aim to negotiate a Serbia–Ukraine free‑trade agreement to be worked out by the end of 2026, but that commitment remains a developing intent rather than a concluded deal.
- Vučić publicly denied current military cooperation with Ukraine and said drone projects with Ukraine are not planned, while warning Europe may be at the start of a much larger war in remarks after the visit.
- Reporting and a former U.S. ambassador, Christopher Hill, have alleged that Serbia has indirectly supplied substantial artillery ammunition to Ukraine, a claim that complicates Belgrade’s official denials and raises Western policy questions.
- Serbia continues to refuse EU sanctions on Russia, does not recognize Kosovo’s independence and faces criticism from pro‑Kremlin commentators for hosting Selenskyj, all factors that shape Belgrade’s tightrope between Moscow, Brussels and domestic politics.