Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on June 11 that he did not sign a joint declaration of the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit in Odesa so as not to "betray Russia."
The declaration, signed by all the other participants, denounced Russia's illegal aggression, called for a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, and reaffirmed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Speaking at the summit, which marked the Moscow-friendly leader's first official visit to Ukraine, Vucic said Serbia wants to go beyond political declarations and provide practical assistance to Kyiv.
"I would like to take one or two cities or regions that we could rebuild. I think that would be very clear and noticeable to the Ukrainian people," Vucic said. "We are ready to listen to you and see how we can help you."
Vucic also reaffirmed Serbia's commitment to international law and the U.N. Charter, saying that this includes supporting the territorial integrity of states — a message the president described as important for Kyiv.
"Ukraine can always count on Serbia's humanitarian and political support for its territorial integrity," he said. "We could be supportive in efforts to achieve a ceasefire."
The visit marked a significant moment in the Serbian leader's efforts to maintain a neutral stance in Russia's war against Ukraine while also advancing Serbia's EU accession aspirations.
Vucic was one of the few European leaders to attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9 — a move that drew criticism from EU officials.
Tensions between Belgrade and Moscow have risen in recent weeks after Russia's intelligence services accused Serbian defense firms on May 29 of indirectly supplying weapons to Ukraine. Vucic has denied those claims.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
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