Serbia and Ukraine pledge closer economic ties, eye free trade deal

What the report says

Serbia and Ukraine have agreed to deepen economic ties and aim to complete a long-discussed free trade deal by the end of the year, according to Al Jazeera’s report on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Belgrade. The meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic took place on the final day of Zelenskyy’s two-day trip, his first to Serbia since 2019, and followed prior encounters between the two leaders earlier this year.

At a joint news conference, Vucic said Serbia would continue backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and support its effort to join the European Union, while also offering help to rebuild cities damaged by Russia’s invasion. He said Serbia would provide humanitarian and winter support, including aid for energy and infrastructure needs. Zelenskyy, for his part, said the talks covered economic and logistics projects, energy and food security, and cooperation intended to strengthen resilience ahead of winter.

The proposed free trade agreement has been under discussion for years and remains important for Serbia’s trade ambitions and EU path. Al Jazeera noted that Ukraine has blocked the deal since 2005 over agricultural quotas and tariffs, while Serbia has not joined Western sanctions against Russia. The report also said Serbia pledged 2 million euros for Ukraine’s energy sector and that the two countries signed a memorandum on animal health and food safety.

The visit highlighted Serbia’s effort to balance its EU aspirations with long-standing ties to Russia, even as it expands cooperation with Kyiv. Military cooperation was not discussed, and both leaders framed the talks as focused on economic, humanitarian and practical support.