Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hosted his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Belgrade. It demonstrates deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries, as they pledge to finalize a long-stalled free trade agreement by the end of the year. It was Zelenskyy’s first visit to Serbia since 2019, but the two leaders have met several times previously, most recently in Kyiv on July 15.
As Vucic said at a joint news conference, Serbia would support Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and maintain its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Nevertheless, Belgrade has refused to impose sanctions on Russia. For its part, Ukraine has not recognized Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence.
However, they have been discussing the proposed free trade agreement for more than twenty years. Now both sides are aiming to complete a deal by the end of the year. Serbia needs the agreement to join the World Trade Organization and then the EU. Since 2005, Ukraine has blocked the deal, as quotas and tariffs affected its agricultural sector. As both leaders pointed, the progress on the agreement signified strengthening economic ties. Also, Serbia promised to provide humanitarian aid and infrastructure and energy support to Ukraine this winter. According to Zelenskyy, they discussed joint infrastructure projects and cooperation on energy and food security before the winter.
The Ukrainian President also discussed economic and logistics projects with Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut. The Danube Corridor and closer links between Ukraine, the Western Balkans and the EU were included. He expressed gratitude to Serbia for pledging 2 million euros ($2.3m) to support Ukraine’s energy sector.
As the Kyiv Post reports, Serbia’s Agriculture Minister Dragan Glamocic and Ukraine’s ambassador to Serbia Oleksandr Lytvynenko signed a memorandum on animal health and food safety.
Nevertheless, Vucic is doubtful about either Serbia’s or Ukraine’s rapid EU membership.
Serbian President does not expect the war in Ukraine to end soon. Despite its support of Ukraine, Belgrade has resisted joining Western sanctions against Moscow due to Serbia’s dependence on Russia for most of its gas. However, Serbia is trying to reduce some of its military dependence on Russia. An agreement to replace its ageing Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets with French Rafale aircraft illustrates this intention. In response to repeated accusations of selling ammunition that ultimately reached Ukraine through intermediaries, Belgrade has denied supplying ammunition to Ukraine.
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