Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is facing pressure from all sides, as his reputation in Europe declines, Russia refuses to support him, and even China appears to be distancing itself, the Austrian daily Der Standard reported. The newspaper cites Balkan expert Florian Bieber, who says Vučić’s strategy of balancing between global powers is now seriously destabilized.
According to Der Standard, the Serbian regime is under increasing pressure from Russia, the United States, and the Serbian opposition, with Vučić’s image in Europe “significantly damaged.” The situation has been further strained by sanctions targeting the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), the only oil company in Serbia majority-owned by Russia.
The report highlights that the only potential solution would be for Russia’s Gazprom to sell its share in NIS, but Moscow is currently not accommodating Vučić. Instead, the newspaper notes, Russian officials have begun mocking him. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova recently questioned whether “there is only one President Vučić,” referring to contradictory statements he makes in different places.
Russian frustration is fueled by accusations that Serbia has been supplying ammunition to Ukraine, a point that Der Standard emphasizes.
Shrinking Room to Maneuver
Florian Bieber, a professor of Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz and coordinator of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG), told Der Standard that Vučić’s ability to navigate between global powers is rapidly diminishing.
“The four chairs Serbia sits on are becoming increasingly unstable,” Bieber said, warning that a potential diplomatic “break” with Russia would further restrict Vučić’s options.
Bieber added that China is also becoming more cautious, as Beijing is displeased with Vučić’s tendency to use bilateral relations primarily for personal political leverage.
Vučić’s Controversial Past Returns to the Spotlight
Der Standard also references recent media reports about Vučić’s alleged activities during the siege of Sarajevo, including claims about hiring foreign mercenaries to fire on civilians.
According to Bieber, Vučić has never distanced himself from his extremist past nor addressed it critically. “It is clear that he gave his blessing to war crimes,” he said.
Although Vučić’s past has long been known, it is now becoming a growing concern for EU politicians, who no longer see him as the once-favored “dear Aleksandar,” a term reportedly used by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Bieber describes this as a clear sign that previous political assessments of Vučić were mistaken.
He attributes this to the “sunk-cost effect,” where political actors persist in supporting an investment—such as a political leader—simply because they have invested in it for so long, even when it no longer yields any benefits.
