First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska visits Belgrade

(Patria) - First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrived in Belgrade yesterday.

This is the first visit of a high-ranking Ukrainian official to Serbia since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, which can also be interpreted as a signal of Serbia distancing itself from Moscow, its traditional ally, Reuters reported.

Together with her Serbian counterpart Tamara Vučić, wife of the President of Serbia, and Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, who is also on his first visit to Belgrade, Zelenska visited the city and the medieval Kalemegdan Fortress, the British agency reported, citing Belgrade media.

Due to traditional historical, religious, political, and military ties, pro-Russian sentiment is widespread in Serbia, Reuters reported, assessing that "Serbian populist President Aleksandar Vučić is trying to balance between Serbia's EU membership candidacy and ties with Russia and China".

It was also stated that Serbia has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations and other international forums, but has so far refused to join international sanctions against the Kremlin.

Reuters also reminds that Vučić has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky three times so far at international forums abroad, most recently in February at a regional meeting in Tirana.

Since 2022, Serbia has accepted thousands of Ukrainian refugees, sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and pledged to assist in demining the country and post-war reconstruction.

The British agency reminds that last year, a leaked confidential Pentagon document stated that "Serbia agreed to deliver weapons and ammunition to Kyiv or had sent them to Ukraine".