Serbia keeps EU, Russia in play ahead of key election

Serbia finds itself caught between the European Union and Russia as it prepares for a crucial election. The country recently battled devastating wildfires that burned over 3,500 hectares of land in the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve, prompting Serbia to seek assistance from Russia. This marked the first time Serbia had turned to Russia for a firefighting aircraft.

Pro-government media hailed the arrival of the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft as a significant boost to Serbia's firefighting capabilities. Serbia's Interior Ministry head, Luka Causic, emphasized that the EU lacks such advanced firefighting aircraft. However, the incident was seen through a geopolitical lens, as Serbia had initially reached out to the EU for help before turning to Russia.

When the EU responded with helicopters and ground teams, Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vucic, downplayed the move as a purely domestic issue, stating that Serbia's own helicopters were more capable than the European ones received. The wildfire episode followed a high-profile visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reaffirmed Serbia's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Vucic sees Zelenskyy's visit as a response to Western pressure rather than a fundamental shift in Serbia's relationship with Russia. He aims to maintain positive relationships with both the EU and Russia to ensure his political future during the upcoming election, tentatively scheduled for October. The challenge lies in balancing these relationships, as the situation between Russia and the West grows more tense, leaving Serbia with limited room to stay on good terms with both without facing pressure to choose a side.