Zelenskyy will not travel to Serbia but will send Ukrainian representative to Vučić
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
A representative of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers will travel from Ukraine to Serbia — Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, according to a statement by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We discussed bilateral relations between our countries with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. We both believe they should be strong, and we see potential for further development," the head of state said.
The president also noted that he expects mutually beneficial agreements, including the resumption of negotiations on a free trade zone with Serbia.
What preceded this
On May 19, a Serbian TV channel reported that Belgrade is expecting a visit from a Ukrainian delegation, which could be led personally by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Serbia, there are expectations that the countries may soon sign a joint memorandum of understanding on trade cooperation.
So far, contacts between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Aleksandar Vučić have mostly taken place on the sidelines of international political summits.
The first direct talks between the leaders since the start of the full-scale war took place at the end of August 2023 in Athens at the Ukraine – Southeast Europe summit.
Presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, responding to a question from RBC-Ukraine, said that a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Serbia is still planned, but the sides have decided to choose different dates. Taras Kachka, who will travel to Serbia this time, will work on preparing "some issues."
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he hopes to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berehove in the Zakarpattia region.
In addition, Zelenskyy emphasized that strikes on the Moscow region are a clear signal to the Kremlin that it should not engage with Ukraine or wage an unjust war of aggression against it.
