Zelenskyy makes first official visit to Serbia, bolstering Ukraine-West ties

The blue-and-yellow honor guard that greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Belgrade on August 7 would have been hard to imagine a few years ago, given Serbia's deep historic ties to Russia. While the photo-op made headlines, the Ukrainian leader's visit was no mere publicity stunt.

Beyond Symbolism

Zelenskyy's first official trip to Serbia served the interests of Ukraine, Europe, and the United States alike, demonstrating that Kyiv can forge real partnerships amid a grinding war and mounting geopolitical instability. Serbia came to the table with its own complicated history and constraints, including the issue of Kosovo and concerns about territorial integrity. Both sides walked away with results that went beyond symbolism.

Serbia's Balancing Act

None of this squares neatly with Serbia's decision not to sanction or openly criticize Russia. Serbian society remains largely sympathetic to Russia, a position reflecting longstanding cultural, historical, and religious ties. This relationship has been reinforced in recent decades by perceptions of Moscow as a guarantor of Serbian sovereignty, along with widespread Serbian resentment over NATO's 1999 bombing campaign and the secession of Kosovo.

Despite his country's strong links to Moscow, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic appears to understand the difference between Russian mythology and geopolitical reality. He seems well aware that the Kremlin has spent years using its energy foothold in Serbia to fund destabilizing influence operations and corrupt Serbian politics. Nevertheless, support for Russia remains an electoral fact of life that no Serbian government has been willing to openly challenge.

Quiet Support for Ukraine

Vucic's strategy is designed to avoid confrontation. He publicly embraces Moscow to placate domestic audiences, but also quietly enables the flow of ammunition that Ukraine needs to keep fighting. Serbia has never declared itself a weapons supplier to Ukraine, and Vucic still denies it, but Moscow and others know the paper trail. Former US Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill has confirmed that Washington helped Ukraine obtain a significant quantity of Serbian-made ammunition.

Putin's foreign intelligence service has accused Serbia's defense industry of "trying to shoot Russia in the back." In spring 2025, a mysterious explosion rocked a Serbian plant supplying Ukraine, injuring seven workers. Officials in Belgrade did not officially assign blame for the blast, but it mirrored a broader pattern of Russian sabotage elsewhere in Europe.

Broader Geopolitical Implications

The continued supply of Serbian weapons to Ukraine was not the only issue under discussion in Belgrade. The recent visit had a range of broader geopolitical implications, including the prospect of new opportunities for cooperation with Israel.

Together with Czechia, Serbia has emerged as one of Israel's closest partners in Europe. Elbit Systems, the Israeli defense giant, is opening a drone manufacturing facility in Serbia this fall. Vucic invited Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian policymakers to attend the opening. In assisting Kyiv, Belgrade is drawing on its credibility with Israel and potentially opening the door for a defense-industrial partnership that Zelenskyy has long sought.

Energy Sector Cooperation

Zelenskyy's visit also raised the prospect of energy sector cooperation. Serbia sits on the planned Vertical Gas Corridor, the north-south route meant to bring US LNG and Azerbaijani gas into Central and Eastern Europe and cut the Balkan region's dependence on Russian energy supplies.

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