Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/PREDSEDNISTVO SRBIJE/DIMITRIJE GOLL/MO)
On June 11, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic told Serbian media in Odessa that he did not sign the Fourth Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit Declaration due to the document calling for sanctions against Russia.
The president’s one-day stay in the city marks his fourth time attending the summit but also his first visit to Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia. With regards to the declaration, Vucic stated that signing it would have required going against himself, his country and his policies, and added that no one “put particular pressure” on him to do so.
“Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski showed respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity since there were no representatives from Pristina [at the summit],” Vucic told the press conference, underlining that Serbia appreciates this “grand gesture” and will reciprocate by donating school busses and school lunches to Ukraine.
Vucic further said that he discussed important matters with Ukrainian representatives and explained that the two countries have yet to resolve trade relations and a free trade agreement through the World Trade Organization.
“Now is the time to begin working on creating a better space for our companies in Ukraine and vice versa, simply to aid the economic growth of two friendly countries,” Vucic concluded.
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