Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia on August 7, 2026, for his first official visit to the Balkan nation. The trip comes less than a month after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited Kyiv to attend the Ukraine South-Eastern Europe summit.
In a video posted to his official Facebook page showing his arrival at Belgrade airport, Zelenskyy said he brought a delegation for talks with Vucic and Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut. He said negotiations would focus on expanding economic connections, relations with the European Union, and security issues. He added that Ukraine aims to work constructively and with mutual respect.
Svitlana, a Ukrainian resident of Belgrade who left Zaporizhzhia in March 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion, told reporters that the visit would help people in both countries understand each other better. Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shows that slightly over 16,000 Ukrainian refugees were registered in Serbia by December 2025. The 2022 census recorded around 4,000 Ukrainians living in the country.
Filip Pronek, head of the National Council of Ukrainians, called Zelenskyy's visit positive news for bilateral relations. He noted that First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Serbia in May 2024 alongside then Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Pronek said cooperation would grow between two Slavic nations sharing historical ties.
Displaced Residents and Anti-War Activists
Thousands of Russian citizens have also moved to Serbia to escape potential military conscription. According to the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, nearly 55,000 Russians held temporary residence permits by late 2025, while more than 7,000 had permanent residence.
Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian activists organised anti-war rallies shortly after the invasion began. Several Russian activists later lost their residence rights and left Serbia after authorities cited security reasons for the decisions.
Peter Nikitin, a Russian-born lawyer and activist who has lived in Serbia for ten years, expressed hope that Zelenskyy's arrival would lead to a shift in Serbia's attitude toward the conflict. Nikitin said Ukraine offers a market of over 40 million people, developed agriculture, IT expertise, defence industry capabilities, and reconstruction opportunities for Serbian firms.
Nikitin said Serbia's previous approach favoured the Kremlin over Kyiv, pointing to state media coverage and past diplomatic missteps. He recalled a 2018 visit by former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, when Serbian Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic was assigned to meet him at the airport instead of a higher-ranking official.
Diplomatic Balancing Between West and Moscow
Belgrade has condemned Russia's violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity but has refused to join European Union and United States sanctions against Moscow. This stance has drawn criticism from Brussels as Serbia seeks EU membership.
Some Serbian officials maintain strong ties with Russia, including Nenad Popovic, a minister without portfolio who regularly travels to Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service has repeatedly accused Serbia of indirectly sending ammunition to Ukraine.
Public opinion in Serbia remains strongly supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Gallup survey conducted across 57 countries in early 2026 found Putin had his highest rating in Serbia among foreign leaders. Far-right groups in Serbia have held pro-Russian demonstrations, including a March 2022 rally in central Belgrade that drew about 4,000 participants.
Hate speech has also targeted Ukrainian representatives in Serbia, such as graffiti appearing in Novi Sad on February 25, 2026, calling Ambassador Oleksandr Lytvynenko a fascist. However, Svitlana noted that she has experienced no personal discomfort living in Serbia and described local residents as hospitable.
Nikitin argued that Serbia should not maintain diplomatic ties with a state carrying out military aggression and declaring hostility toward the European Union.
Expert Outlook on Foreign Policy Impact
Experts interviewed by Radio Free Europe's Balkan Service describe the visit as a significant diplomatic signal but do not anticipate a fundamental shift in Serbia's foreign policy. They expect Vucic to continue balancing relations between Russia, Ukraine, and Western nations.
Discussions between the leaders are expected to cover potential military cooperation. Serbia officially denies exporting weapons directly to Ukraine, but analysts suggest Kyiv may seek Serbian ammunition compatible with Soviet-designed military hardware.
Other anticipated topics include economic cooperation, humanitarian assistance, Serbian involvement in post-war reconstruction, and Serbia's EU integration process. Observers view Zelenskyy's visit as pragmatic outreach to nations with complex views on Russia, while Serbia may use the meeting to improve its standing with Western partners.
Analysts expect Moscow to view the visit with suspicion without taking drastic action unless Belgrade adopts explicit measures against Russia. Western officials in the EU and US are expected to view the engagement favorably.
