Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is traveling to Ukraine today, marking his first visit to the country since the start of the 2022 war. The visit comes just days after Russia accused Serbian companies of selling weapons to Ukraine, allegations that Serbia has neither publicly confirmed nor fully denied. Vučić is balancing between his country’s traditional ally Russia and Serbia’s desire to join the European Union. Belgrade has not severed ties with Moscow nor imposed sanctions on Russia, but Vučić participated in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9. The visit aims to participate in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit and represents an important diplomatic step in Serbia’s complex relations with Russia and Ukraine.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the complexity of Serbia’s position, highlighting Vučić’s balancing act between Russia and the EU, and often criticize Serbia’s reluctance to impose sanctions on Russia. They focus on the humanitarian impact of the war and the need for Serbia to align more closely with European values and support Ukraine.
Center: Centrist sources report the visit factually, focusing on the diplomatic significance of Vučić’s trip to Ukraine and the ongoing tensions between Serbia’s traditional ties with Russia and its aspirations for EU integration. They present the visit as a pragmatic move in Serbia’s foreign policy without strong editorializing.
Right: Right-leaning media tend to emphasize Serbia’s historical and cultural ties with Russia, often portraying Vučić’s visit as a careful diplomatic effort to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine. They may downplay accusations against Serbia regarding arms sales and stress the importance of national interests and sovereignty.
