Zelensky to make first visit to Serbia since Russia invasion

Zelensky Serbia first visit Carpathian Initiative EU candidacy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Belgrade on 8 August 2026, marking his first official visit to Serbia since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A senior Ukrainian official told AFP the trip is intended as “a palm for the Russians” and aims to pull Serbia away from Moscow’s sphere of influence. Serbia, one of the few European states that has not joined EU sanctions against Russia, remains heavily dependent on Russian gas while simultaneously pursuing EU accession and seeking a diplomatic balance between Brussels and Moscow. During the visit President Aleksandar Vučić will host Zelensky and discuss three priority areas – Serbia’s European path, bilateral economic cooperation and energy ties – as well as the newly announced Carpathian Initiative, a regional platform that would bring together Ukraine, Serbia and six other European countries to cooperate on logistics, security, tourism and post‑war reconstruction. The trip follows recent meetings between the two leaders at summits in Kyiv and reflects Kyiv’s broader effort to secure wider international support.

Entities: Aleksandar Vučić · Azerbaijan · Carpathian Initiative · European Union · Juan José Sanz Aparicio · King Felipe VI · Pedro Sánchez · Russia · Serbia · Volodymyr Zelensky · Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Vučić said Spain remains committed to Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. (article 6e903595-b239-4199-8e8b-0ad4d0657ef4)
[● 2 SOURCES] Vučić mentioned discussions about expanding economic cooperation and Spain’s participation in Expo 2027 in Belgrade. (article 2639bc7a-0006-4a92-a656-9a789f7df579, article eeb19071-1e1e-4581-8198-8271793954eb)
[● 2 SOURCES] Vučić said Serbia considers Spain one of its most important partners in the European Union. (article 2639bc7a-0006-4a92-a656-9a789f7df579, article eeb19071-1e1e-4581-8198-8271793954eb)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Vučić said Serbian elections are upcoming and will be scheduled “for which day or week.” (article 6e903595-b239-4199-8e8b-0ad4d0657ef4)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Vučić said Serbia will soon begin building a bridge and is involved in rolling‑stock procurement from Spain. (article 6e903595-b239-4199-8e8b-0ad4d0657ef4)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Serbia purchases military aircraft from Spain. (article 6e903595-b239-4199-8e8b-0ad4d0657ef4)
[● 2 SOURCES] Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić received a farewell visit from Spanish ambassador Juan José Sanz Aparicio. (article 2639bc7a-0006-4a92-a656-9a789f7df579, article eeb19071-1e1e-4581-8198-8271793954eb)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Vučić said trade with Azerbaijan has increased sixteenfold. (article 6e903595-b239-4199-8e8b-0ad4d0657ef4)
[● 13 SOURCES] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Serbia on 8 August 2026. (multiple articles)
[● 13 SOURCES] Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will host Zelensky during the visit. (multiple articles)
[● 12 SOURCES] It will be Zelensky's first visit to Serbia since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (multiple articles)
[● 12 SOURCES] Serbia is a candidate for EU membership and seeks to balance relations with the EU and Russia. (multiple articles)