Zelensky to Make Historic State Visit to Serbia on Aug 8

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to make a historic state visit to Serbia on August 8, marking his first trip to the country since Russia's full-scale invasion began. The visit to Belgrade, a traditional ally of Moscow, represents a significant diplomatic overture aimed at drawing Serbia closer to Western positions on the war.

The trip comes amid a major reshuffle of Ukraine's diplomatic corps and a renewed push for military aid ahead of what officials anticipate will be a difficult winter. In a speech to Ukrainian ambassadors gathered in Kyiv on August 3, President Zelensky issued new, concrete directives, stating that the primary measure of an embassy's work would be the amount of weapons and financial support it secures for Ukraine. He emphasized that every ambassador must focus on delivering air defense missiles, combat aviation weapons, and drone supplies.

This diplomatic mobilization occurs against a backdrop of internal challenges, including an acting defense minister and the recent dismissal of several ambassadors. Notably, the ambassador to the United States was recently dismissed amid an anti-corruption investigation. However, one key diplomatic...