Vucic Pledges More Aid to Ukraine but Rejects Summit Declaration

During a visit to Kyiv, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pledged further humanitarian aid to Ukraine but refused to sign a joint declaration calling for continued political, military, financial and security support for the country and increased pressure on Russia.

It was the first visit by a Serbian leader to the Ukrainian capital in more than a decade. After talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vucic announced that Serbia would provide additional financial, medical and energy aid and help rebuild an unspecified Ukrainian town.

Serbia has repeatedly supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemned Russia’s policies at the United Nations, but unlike most European countries, it has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow. Russia also remains Serbia’s largest supplier of natural gas.

Vucic confirmed that Belgrade continued to support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Serbia has provided around €60m in non-military and non-lethal aid.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Belgrade of selling ammunition to Ukraine through intermediaries. The Serbian government denies supplying Ukraine directly, but has acknowledged selling ammunition to other buyers worldwide.

(Reuters, Lud)