Ukraine's charm offensive reaches Moscow's partners
Ukraine's diplomacy is finding unexpected success beyond its traditional allies. Within a span of a few months, President Volodymyr Zelensky has paid first wartime visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Serbia — countries traditionally counted among Moscow's partners. Economically and geopolitically weakened by its ongoing war against Ukraine, Russia is running short on political capital it can use…
Ukraine's diplomatic efforts are proving successful beyond its usual allies. In just a few months, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid wartime visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Serbia, traditionally considered Russia's partners. Struggling economically and geopolitically due to the war, Russia is running low on the political capital needed to maintain its influence.
This, coupled with strained bilateral relations and pragmatic balancing in regions like Belgrade, Yerevan, and Baku, presents an opportunity for Ukraine to seek arms, trade, or diplomacy against Russia. Each country may have different motivations, but there is a clear trend of weakening Russian influence and emerging tensions with its traditional partners.
However, these diplomatic efforts have constraints. None of these countries are ready to completely shift away from Russia or provide significant military support to Ukraine. Serbia, for example, relies heavily on Cold War-era ammunition from Russia, and Armenia has distanced itself from Russia due to Azerbaijan's invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023.
Meanwhile, Serbia's EU aspirations and Serbia's failing rule of law have led to hosting Zelensky to promote a more pro-European image. Russia's actions, such as criticizing Serbia's arms sales to Ukraine and threatening Armenia, may unintentionally contribute to this shift.
The goals of Ukraine's outreach vary. Serbia provides a source of Cold War-era ammunition, while Azerbaijan is a major partner in energy, with potential cooperation in drone technology. However, some motivations may simply be to "needle" Russia and demonstrate that Ukraine is not bowing to Russian pressure. Overall, Ukraine's diplomatic success contrasts with earlier years of the full-scale war when Kyiv struggled to gain support beyond the Western bloc.
The change now lies in Ukraine's move towards a more transactional relationship with partners, facilitated by its growing drone technology capabilities, which have been evident in recent drone deals with Middle Eastern nations.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
