Zelenskyy Makes First Serbia Visit, Presses for Arms

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia on Thursday for his first official visit to the country, a Balkan state that has maintained close ties with Russia. His host, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, is seeking to strengthen his own standing with the European Union through the meeting. For Zelenskyy, the trip is a direct appeal for more military support from a government that has so far resisted joining Western sanctions against Moscow. Serbia remains one of Russia’s few traditional allies in Europe, yet Vucic has balanced that relationship with a stated goal of EU membership. The visit signals a potential shift in that balancing act, as Kyiv looks to secure every possible source of weaponry in its ongoing defense against Russian aggression. No public statements were issued after the talks, but diplomatic sources suggest the arms request was the central topic of discussion.