Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has announced an imminent high-level meeting between the leadership of Serbia and Russia, signaling continued close ties between Belgrade and Moscow.
Vučić made the statement after meeting with Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Bocan-Kharchenko, noting that the two had discussed “all topics of mutual interest,” particularly in preparation for the upcoming summit.
“I emphasized that we remain committed to developing friendly relations with Russia, while firmly determined to preserve peace and political stability in the Western Balkans, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Vučić stated on Instagram.
The Serbian president last met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2025 during the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism celebrations.
Despite being an official EU candidate country, Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Instead, Belgrade has sought to maintain and even deepen ties with Moscow.
The Kremlin recently voiced support for Vučić amid mass anti-government protests in Serbia, where demonstrators have been demanding snap parliamentary elections.
In an August 13 statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused “certain forces in Serbia” of hiding behind slogans of “justice and democracy” while engaging in “open aggression, barbarism, and violence.”
Mass protests, led by students blocking universities, have continued for more than nine months following the deadly collapse of a reconstructed train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Protesters demand accountability for the tragedy, institutional reforms, and early elections.
