Zelensky To Make First-Ever Visit To Serbia, In Symbolic 'Slap In The Face' For Russia

Serbia is set to host Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a major first of the war which could set off serious diplomatic tensions with Russia, a longtime Serbian ally and 'friend'.

Zelensky will arrive on this first-ever trip on Saturday, August 8, according to Ukrainian officials, despite that Serbia - as a Slavic and Orthodox Christian country - has historically maintained warm ties with Moscow.

But Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has been a leader who has put a little distance between himself in Russia, for example skipping this year's Victory Day Parade in Moscow. He's also been accused of allowing Serbian arms to go to Ukraine, which he's denied.

"I believe we will discuss how and in what ways we can help each other on this issue (EU integration, ed.) and, if possible, learn something from one another," Vučić said of the upcoming visit.

"That also includes our cooperation in culture, sports, and everything else," the president added. Regional media indicated the two leaders are expected to address Ukraine's move toward EU membership, energy cooperation, as well as economic ties.

Zelensky is likely to lobby the Serbian government to take a tougher stance on Russia, for example by joining Western sanctions on Moscow.

President Vučić has consistently resisted calls to join anti-Russian international sanctions, however, stressing that the country's position on the matter will remain unchanged.

But Serbia is still hugely dependent on Russian energy, and just a week ago it was reported that— 

Serbia secured another sanctions waiver from the United States for ​its Russian-owned oil company NIS, energy minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic ‌said on Friday, allowing the firm that supplies most of the country's fuel demand to continue importing crude oil until August 28.

The waiver granted by the U.S. Office ​of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) gives NIS, which operates Serbia's only oil ​refinery, more time while Hungary's oil and gas firm MOL negotiates ⁠the purchase of the Russian majority stake in the company.

As for Zelensky's state visit, the Kremlin is surely not pleased, given the symbolic nature of Belgrade opening up to Ukraine in essence.

Serbia has stood accused of becoming a key element in NATO's Balkan arms pipeline of secretive transfers...

Seems Zelenskyy (may) visit Serbia next days/weeks. It follows a long, secretive (but certainly not secret) and massive sale of Serbian ammunition to kill thousands of Russians, facilitated by USA, which made Serbia billions of $ and bought Vucic tolerance with Western capitals. https://t.co/Hpc7ba8LCv

— Petrit Selimi (@Petrit) August 6, 2026

An unnamed senior Ukrainian official made no secret of Zelensky's intent is. "We need to pull the Serbs away from Russia’s side," the official said, calling the unprecedented visit to Belgrade a "slap in the face for the Russians."