Thewesternbalkans.
According to different media, on 11 of June, in Odesa took place the fourth Ukraine–South-East Europe Summit, with the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. This was his first visit since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
In talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vučić stressed that Serbia would continue to respect international law, including the “protection of the territorial integrity of countries recognised by the United Nations.” Ukraine, like Serbia, has never recognised Kosovo’s independence, declared in February 2008.
In Odessa the Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon suggested that Vučić’s presence could be interpreted as a gesture of support for Kyiv.
One symbolic change also came in April, when Aleksandar Vulin, a staunch pro-Kremlin figure who has served in every Vučić government since 2013 and was awarded the Order of Friendship by Putin in January 2024, was left out of the cabinet reshuffle in April.
Brussels, for its part, has been careful not to provoke Vučić. It has avoided backing the protest movement in Serbia and, on 4 June, added the controversial lithium mine project in Serbia’s Jadar Valley to its list of strategic non-EU projects – despite strong local opposition.
On the other side, Vučić refused to sign the summit’s final declaration, which strongly condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This move is considered as consistent with Serbia’s refusal to adopt EU sanctions against Moscow or sever direct air links with Russia.
Comments: Vučić’s political longevity is a testament to his ability to balance Western and Russian interests to Serbia’s benefit. And European leaders – most notably French President Emmanuel Macron, who sought to win over Belgrade with offers of French fighter jets – may ultimately find that Vučić remains, above all, a political opportunist.
