Winter aid, a free-trade target, and a food-safety pact: what Ukraine and Serbia agreed in Belgrade
Beyond the symbolism, the two sides put concrete cooperation on paper across health, energy, and trade.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy embarked on his inaugural official visit to Serbia, meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on August 8, 2026, according to Ukraine's Presidential Office. The two leaders agreed to strengthen trade and energy cooperation, with Serbia promising additional humanitarian aid and assistance in rebuilding a Ukrainian city ravaged by war.
The visit was notable since Serbia remains a close ally of Russia, while also striving for EU membership and supporting Ukraine with financial and humanitarian aid, though it refrains from providing direct military assistance. The Western Balkans, including Serbia, have long been waiting in the EU's pipeline, an area under Moscow's control through energy leverage and cultural ties.
This visit came amid Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow attempting to hinder Ukrainian support in Europe. During the trip, Zelenskyy paid a courtesy visit to Serbia in August 2024. Serbia, a candidate for EU accession, shares close ties with Russia and does not sanction it, relying on Moscow for most of its energy needs.
Serbian President Vučić reiterated Serbia's commitment to the UN Charter and the territorial integrity of all UN member states, including Ukraine, which Moscow occupies since 2014. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's stance on Kosovo's unilateral independence, which remains unchanged. The leaders discussed infrastructure, ports, railways, and food security during their meeting.
Serbia expressed interest in Ukraine's railway expertise and aimed to conclude a free-trade agreement by year-end 2026, with trade volumes reaching $346 million in the first half of 2026, compared to $442 million for all of 2025. Additionally, a cooperation memorandum was signed between Ukraine's food-safety service and Serbia's agriculture ministry, focusing on animal health and food safety.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
