Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced late last night that he held a private meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Odesa. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Serbia’s financial and humanitarian assistance, including support for Ukraine’s energy sector, and for Serbia’s initiative to sponsor the reconstruction of several Ukrainian settlements.
During their one-on-one meeting, held on the sidelines of the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Vučić “reaffirmed Serbia’s firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” according to a statement published on the Ukrainian President’s website. The two leaders discussed both Ukraine’s and Serbia’s paths toward European Union integration, as well as bilateral cooperation.
Zelenskyy also invited Serbia to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine and to attend the upcoming conference on Ukraine’s recovery, scheduled for July 10-11 in Rome.
Vučić’s Perspective on the Talks
Earlier, on Instagram, President Vučić described his conversation with Zelenskyy as “significant and open,” covering “key issues of contemporary geopolitical challenges facing Europe and the entire world.”
“We exchanged views on the importance of achieving long-term and sustainable peace, respecting international law, as well as the role of diplomacy in overcoming conflicts,” Vučić stated. “We also discussed economic topics, as well as common goals in achieving the strongest possible joint cooperation in various social spheres as a foundation for any further progress.”
Serbia’s Stance and Regional Reaction
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon welcomed Vučić’s participation in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit, interpreting it as strong support for Ukrainian leadership. However, Vučić was the sole participant who did not sign the adopted declaration from the Summit. He explained to Serbian media that he could not sign it because it called for sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, stating he “could not go against himself, his country, and the policy it pursues,” which involves not imposing sanctions on Russia while respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Vučić also noted that Zelenskyy “showed respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity” by ensuring no representatives from Kosovo were present at the Summit. He called this a “great gesture” towards Serbia that it “will certainly appreciate.”
