Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić made his first official visit to Ukraine on 11 June 2025 since taking office, attending the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa but refusing to sign the summit’s final declaration, which condemned Russian aggression and called for expanded sanctions.

Vučić meets Zelenskyy, reaffirms support for Ukraine’s sovereignty

According to the official website of the Ukrainian president, Vučić held a one-on-one meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where both leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and Serbia’s participation in Ukraine’s post-war recovery. Zelenskyy thanked Vučić for Serbia’s financial and humanitarian assistance and its initiative to help rebuild several Ukrainian settlements.

Vučić reportedly expressed gratitude for the summit and emphasized Serbia’s “firm support” for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. RFE/RL says he also welcomed Ukraine’s continued refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence, a long-standing concern for Belgrade.

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Odesa declaration calls for stronger sanctions against Russia, NATO support of Ukraine

The Southeast Europe summit in Odesa followed previous meetings held in Athens, Tirana, and Dubrovnik. The event was attended by the leaders or other top officials of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

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The joint declaration issued by 11 countries at the summit explicitly condemned Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion” of Ukraine, urged the international community to impose further sanctions on Russia, and called for the creation of a special tribunal to investigate war crimes committed in Ukraine.

The declaration also voiced support for Ukraine’s NATO membership and emphasized the strategic importance of regional cooperation in energy, food security, demining, and cyber defense.

“A free, peaceful, and prosperous Europe is impossible without a free, peaceful, and prosperous Ukraine. The participants of the Ukraine – Southeast Europe Odesa Summit remain resolutely committed to this vision,” the declaration reads.

Vučić abstains from signing, citing national interests and Russia ties

Vučić declined to sign the declaration, saying the document was “against Russia” and emphasizing Serbia’s refusal to impose sanctions on Moscow. Speaking to Serbian journalists, he stated: “I did not betray Russia” and claimed there had been no excessive pressure on him to sign.

He added:

“Unlike them, who are ready to accept everything directed against Russia, everything they can,” the Serbian leader said, adding that he is “proud of Serbia’s policy” and its “autonomy and independence.“

Vučić noted that abstaining from the declaration was allegedly a way to protect Serbia’s interests, which he stated align with international law.

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Serbia’s balancing act between Russia and the EU

As reported by AP and Reuters, Vučić’s stance at the summit underscores his broader diplomatic strategy of balancing Serbia’s EU aspirations with long-standing ties to Russia. Serbia has not joined Western sanctions against Russia and remains heavily reliant on Russian energy. Gazprom and Gazprom Neft hold stakes in Serbia’s key oil infrastructure.

In his public remarks, Vučić repeated calls for “peace” and said Serbia would contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction, claiming that Belgrade “would like to rebuild one or two cities or a small region” in Ukraine.

The summit in Odesa occurred just weeks after Russia accused Serbia of covert arms exports to Ukraine—a claim Belgrade denies but has pledged to investigate.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on June 11 that he did not sign a joint declaration of the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit in Odesa not to "betray Russia."

The declaration, signed by all the other participants, denounced Russia's illegal aggression, called for a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, and reaffirmed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Speaking at the summit, which marked the Moscow-friendly leader's first official visit to Ukraine, Vucic said Serbia wants to go beyond political declarations and provide practical assistance to Kyiv.

"I would like to take one or two cities or regions that we could rebuild. I think that would be very clear and noticeable to the Ukrainian people," Vucic said. "We are ready to listen to you and see how we can help you."

Vucic also reaffirmed Serbia's commitment to international law and the U.N. Charter, saying that this includes supporting the territorial integrity of states — a message the president described as important for Kyiv.

"Ukraine can always count on Serbia's humanitarian and political support for its territorial integrity," he said. "We could be supportive in efforts to achieve a ceasefire."

The visit marked a significant moment in the Serbian leader's efforts to maintain a neutral stance in Russia's war against Ukraine while also advancing Serbia's EU accession aspirations.

Vucic was one of the few European leaders to attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9 — a move that drew criticism from EU officials.

Tensions between Belgrade and Moscow have risen in recent weeks after Russia's intelligence services accused Serbian defense firms on May 29 of indirectly supplying weapons to Ukraine. Vucic has denied those claims.

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The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will visit Ukraine on June 11 to take part in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Serbia's Presidential Office announced.

The one-day trip will mark the Moscow-friendly Serbian leader's first official visit to Ukraine.

Top representatives of 12 southeastern European countries are expected to attend the meeting at the Ukrainian Black Sea coast city.

Serbia has positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war, striving to balance its position as an EU candidate with its long-standing relationship with Moscow.

Vucic, a populist politician who has held power in Serbia for 12 years, was one of the few European leaders who attended the Moscow Victory Day celebrations on May 9, drawing rebuke from the EU.

The traditionally warm Russian-Serbian ties were strained recently after Russia's intelligence accused Serbian defense companies of supplying arms to Ukraine via intermediaries. Vucic has denied the accusations.

Nicusor Dan, the recently elected president of Romania, will also visit Odesa to take part in the summit, the Romanian Presidential Office said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Dan to visit Ukraine shortly after the latter won the May presidential election. Dan ran on a centrist, pro-EU platform against far-right Eurosceptic George Simion.

While Simion has vocally opposed military aid for Kyiv, Dan pledged to maintain Romania's pro-Ukraine course.

‘We only work for Serbia’ — Vucic denies Moscow’s claims of Serbian companies supplying ammunition to Ukraine

“We have formed a working group, together with Russian partners, to establish the facts... we work only for Serbia,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comments by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on May 29 denied Russian foreign intelligence (SVR) claims that Serbian defense enterprises continue to supply ammunition to Ukraine, despite Belgrade's stated neutrality.

"The Serbian defense industry is trying to shoot Russia in the back," the agency's statement read.

The Serbian government has maintained friendly ties with Russia under Vucic, who has denied previous claims of Serbian arms supplies to Ukraine.

Belgrade has positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war, striving to balance its position as an EU candidate with its long-standing relationship with Moscow.

Russian intelligence accused Serbian companies of funneling arms to Ukraine via third-party intermediaries, namely NATO countries like Czechia, Poland, and Bulgaria.

"More recently, exotic options involving African countries have also been used for this purpose," the report claimed.

The Serbian contribution amounts to "hundreds of thousands of shells for multiple-launch rocket systems and howitzers, as well as a million small arms sounds," according to the intelligence report.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims made by Russian officials.

Later on May 29, Vucic denied the allegations made by Russian intelligence, saying that some of the claims are not true.

"For example, they correctly say that there is a contract with the Czech Republic. But no permission was given, and none of the missiles were delivered" to Ukraine, Vucic told Serbian outlet RTS.

"We have formed a working group, together with Russian partners, to establish the facts... we work only for Serbia," he added.

The Financial Times reported in June 2024 that Serbian ammunition worth $855 million has made its way indirectly to Ukraine.

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