Zelensky Concludes Belgrade Visit as Serbia Backs Ukraine EU Bid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky concluded a two-day official visit to Belgrade on Saturday, August 8, 2026, with Serbia pledging support for Ukraine's European Union membership and both nations agreeing to deepen economic cooperation. The visit, Zelensky's first to Serbia since taking office in 2019, was marked by significant diplomatic gestures from a country that has traditionally maintained close ties with Moscow.

On the second day of the visit, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic publicly backed Ukraine's EU aspirations. "We want Ukraine to open all clusters as soon as possible, to close them as soon as possible," Vucic stated at a joint news conference. He assured that Serbia would do everything it can to help Ukraine on its European path. Vucic also expressed unconditional support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, stating there are no buts regarding the issue and emphasizing Serbia's adherence to the UN Charter.

The leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, with a major focus on economic ties. They committed to finalizing a long-stalled free trade agreement by the end of the year, a deal that has been under discussion for over two decades. The agreement...