Serbia's Vučić pledges support for Ukraine's EU membership during Zelensky's first official visit to Belgrade

Aug 8, 2026

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's historic first official visit to Belgrade on August 7-8, 2026, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić pledged full support for Ukraine's EU membership bid. The leaders agreed to finalize a long-stalled free trade agreement by the end of 2026 and signed a food safety memorandum. However, Vučić maintained Serbia's refusal to join international sanctions against Russia, highlighting Belgrade's delicate diplomatic balancing act.

Zelensky visits Serbia officially

▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Duro Macut during the two-day official visit to Belgrade.
▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Belgrade on August 7, 2026, marking his first official visit to Serbia during his presidency.

Serbia-Ukraine free trade agreement

▪Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to finalize a long-stalled bilateral free trade agreement by the end of 2026.
▪The proposed free trade agreement between Serbia and Ukraine has been under discussion for over two decades, having been blocked by Ukraine since 2005 over agricultural quotas and tariffs.

Vučić supports Ukraine EU bid

▪Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić expressed skepticism regarding rapid European Union expansion, noting that the bloc has not admitted a new member state since Croatia joined in 2013.
▪Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić pledged that Serbia will do everything in its power to support Ukraine's swift accession to the European Union, wishing for the rapid opening and closing of all negotiating clusters.

Serbia refuses Russia sanctions

▪Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić reaffirmed that Serbia will maintain its established policy and will not join international sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
▪Serbia remains heavily dependent on Russia for its energy supplies, relying almost entirely on Moscow for its natural gas.

Bilateral infrastructure cooperation projects

▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut discussed joint logistics and economic projects, including the Danube Corridor, to improve links between Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and the European Union.
▪Ukraine and Serbia signed a memorandum of understanding on August 8, 2026, to cooperate on animal health, food safety, and preventing the cross-border introduction of infectious animal diseases.
▪Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to return to Serbia for the opening of a drone manufacturing plant built in cooperation with Israel.