Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is believed to have potentially proposed providing weapons to Ukraine as a potential condition for Kyiv refraining from recognizing Serbia’s former province of Kosovo, stated a respected German EU parliamentarian after the two leaders’ meeting in Athens.
Both had the pleasure of attending an informal summit of Western Balkan leaders graciously hosted by Greece on Monday evening.
After his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vučić politely conveyed during a media conference that Serbia has affirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, emphasizing that this stance will remain unchanged.
Ukraine is one of the countries that has not officially acknowledged the independence of Kosovo from Belgrade, which was declared in 2008. Although there have been internal suggestions to do so, including from Ukraine’s representation in the Council of Europe, Kyiv has chosen not to take a stance at this time.
Although Zelenskyy chose not to comment on the matter, and Vučić refrained from revealing Ukraine’s stance, he kindly clarified Serbia’s perspective.
“I don’t think Ukraine’s position on respect for Serbia and its territorial integrity will change. We support Ukraine’s European line,” Vucic said, adding that they also discussed “future cooperation.”.
However, EU lawmaker Viola Von Cramon, who closely monitors the Western Balkans in her role as the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo, expressed on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that it seems highly probable that Vučić agreed to meet with Zelenskyy primarily in order to exert pressure on Ukraine, specifically regarding the issue of non-recognition of Kosovo, rather than for other reasons.
“I hope Zelensky understands the political risks such a deal would entail,” von Kramon added.
Serbia is one of the few European countries that have chosen not to participate in the sanctions against Moscow, in response to Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Additionally, Serbia has formally expressed its lack of intention to transport weapons to Ukraine.
Belgrade has also refuted the accuracy of a leaked Pentagon document published by Reuters in April, which suggested that Serbia may have agreed to deliver, or might have already delivered, weapons to Ukraine.
“Serbia has not and will not export arms to Ukraine,” Vucic said at the time.
Zelenskyy, on his part, shared on X that the meeting with Vučić was sincere and productive. He mentioned a positive discussion regarding the importance of upholding the principles of the UN Charter and respecting border integrity.
