Speaking from Odesa, where a summit between Ukraine and Southeast European nations was held, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed accusations that he had betrayed Russia. He pointed out that Serbia, once again, refrained from signing the final declaration.
In response to claims by the magazine Vreme that his visit was unannounced and that it signaled a shift in Serbia’s foreign stance, Vucic said media like N1 and Nova S were now accusing him of turning against Russia.
“What betrayal are they talking about? Betrayal of whom—Russia? How? I’ve attended this summit multiple times before, and just like in the past, I didn’t endorse the declaration. Others had no issue signing statements that go directly against Russia, but Serbia didn’t. That alone shows who’s really confused here.”
He went on to say that not long ago, the same media were branding him as being too close to Moscow—and now, suddenly, he’s being painted as siding with the West.
Vucic stressed that Serbia’s policy is based on protecting its own national interests while respecting international law. In doing so, he said, Serbia also maintains a balanced position toward both Russia and Ukraine.
“When people don’t have real arguments, they resort to lies. But lies don’t last. I’m proud of the choices Serbia is making—guided by independence and principle—and we will continue in that direction.”
He acknowledged that many in Serbia harbor strong emotions toward Ukraine but added:
“What exactly has Ukraine done to Serbia? They didn’t include representatives from Pristina at the summit. Shouldn’t we appreciate that? I think we should.”
According to Vucic, Serbia’s refusal to sign the declaration clearly reflects its sovereign position. He described this as a diplomatic win for a small nation that insists on having its own voice.
He concluded by noting that, once he steps down in a year or two, maintaining such a position might become more difficult—but he was able to achieve it thanks to years of diplomacy and personal ties that helped build trust on all sides.
