Aleksandr Valeriyovich Litvinenko, the newly appointed Ukrainian ambassador to Serbia, spoke out against the participation of Serbs in the war in Ukraine, calling it unnecessary and dangerous.
“I cannot understand why Serbs would fight in the war in Ukraine. This is not a Serbian war, and Serbs should not participate. No amount of money is worth a life. This is a bloody conflict, too many people are dying—hundreds of thousands,” Litvinenko told Danas, referring to those who have gone to Ukraine as volunteers or mercenaries.
He emphasized that those fighting for money are mercenaries, which is a criminal offense under Serbian law, and that the Serbian state is taking measures to address such cases.
“We fully understand the Serbian position. Your attempt to maintain balance is clear, and I respect that. However, Serbs have no need to fight in this war on Russia’s side,” he said.
Regarding Serbia’s government, Litvinenko confirmed:
“We have no information that the Serbian government is sending people. This is a sovereign decision, and I do not believe Serbia is doing so.”
The ambassador also addressed broader issues of bilateral relations, stating that his priorities are to develop economic, cultural, and informational ties. He stressed that Ukraine is much larger than the war, highlighting achievements such as the restoration of an 18th-century Ukrainian opera.
On Russia’s role in the conflict, he said:
“Russia must stop killing Ukrainians. Russia must end illegal aggression and withdraw. This is primarily our problem, and we are doing everything possible to stop the aggression and hold the aggressor accountable.”
Litvinenko also spoke about cultural and historical ties between Serbia and Ukraine, noting the shared history of Ukrainian volunteers in World War II and long-standing economic and cultural connections. He highlighted the importance of raising pro-European and rational perspectives in Serbian society, countering Russian propaganda.
