Russia

Serbian politician questions necessity of Zelensky's visit to Belgrade

TASS English · 2026-08-11

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: Serbian politician Milos Jovanovic criticized the necessity of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's visit to Belgrade, stating it was unnecessary and emphasizing Serbia's desire to maintain good relations with both Ukraine and Russia. • Why it matters: Jovanovic's comments reflect Serbia's complex position in the ongoing Ukraine crisis, highlighting the country's historical ties to Russia and its current diplomatic balancing act amid regional tensions. • What to watch next: Observers should monitor Serbia's diplomatic engagements and public sentiment regarding the Ukraine conflict, as well as any potential shifts in its foreign policy following Zelensky's visit.

Ukraine crisisSerbian politician questions necessity of Zelensky's visit to Belgrade In Milos Jovanovic's words, the people of Serbia "feel sad for casualties inflicted by the conflict on the two Slavic peoples," and Belgrade should "maintain the best possible relationship with all countries, including UkraineBELGRADE, August 11. /TASS/. Even as Belgrade should strive to maintain friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Serbia was unnecessary, the chairman of the opposition New Democratic Party of Serbia, Milos Jovanovic, has told TASS. "We are fully aware that this is not a war between Ukraine and Russia, it’s a war that the West is waging on Russia by the hands of Ukraine. In this sense, and completely independent of the [factor of Russian] gas supplies, Vladimir Zelensky’s visit was, to put it mildly, unnecessary," the politician said. In his words, the people of Serbia "feel sad for casualties inflicted by the conflict on the two Slavic peoples," and Belgrade should "maintain the best possible relationship with all countries, including Ukraine, which, just like Russia, did not recognize the secession of Kosovo and Metohija.". 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Source: TASS English
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