Serbian leader to make first visit to Ukraine since invasion
BELGRADE: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who maintains strong ties with Russia, will on Wednesday make his first visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022, the presidency announced.
The Balkan nation with close historical links to Russia has maintained an official policy of neutrality throughout Moscow's three-year offensive on Ukraine and has denied arming either side.
But in recent days Russia accused Serbian arms companies of 'trying to stab Russia in the back' by selling munitions to Ukraine.
Just weeks before that, Vucic joined the 80th anniversary celebrations on Moscow's Red Square for Russia's victory over Nazi Germany.
'The president of the Serbian Republic will visit Ukraine for the day of Wednesday June 11, where he will participate in the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit,' the presidency said in a statement.
Serbia and Ukraine have neither confirmed nor denied that Kyiv uses Serbian munitions.
It will be the first visit to Ukraine by Serbia's head of state since Moscow launched its invasion more than three years ago.
Vucic has attempted to walk a tightrope between traditional ally Russia and Serbia's desire to join the European Union, which is one of Ukraine's main backers in the war against invading Russian forces.
Both Serbia and Russia share a dislike and distrust of NATO, particularly since the defence organisation carried out bombardments on Serbian troops in 1999 during the Kosovo War.
Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Serbia refuses to cut ties with Moscow, despite voting against its long-standing ally at the United Nations.
Belgrade is highly dependent on cheap gas it buys from Russia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Trump says to set unilateral tariffs within weeks
Trump holds the US$5 million dollar Gold Card as he speaks to reporters while in flight on board Air Force One, en route to Miami, Florida on April 3, 2025. – AFP photo WASHINGTON (June 12): President Donald Trump plans to inform trading partners of unilateral US tariff rates in the coming weeks, as a July deadline approaches for steeper levies to kick in on dozens of economies. 'We're going to be sending letters out in about a week and a half, two weeks, to countries telling them what the deal is,' Trump told reporters late Wednesday, at the Kennedy Center in Washington where he was attending a theatre performance. In April, Trump imposed a blanket 10 percent tariff on most US trading partners and unveiled higher individual rates on dozens of economies including India and the European Union — although he swiftly paused the elevated rates. While negotiations have been ongoing, the pause on those higher duties is due to expire on July 9. So far, Washington has only announced a trade deal with the UK, alongside a temporary tariff de-escalation with China. Tensions remain elevated between the world's two biggest economies, with Washington recently accusing Beijing of slow-walking export approvals for rare earth minerals. It remains unclear if the steeper levies will return for all countries in early July. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers earlier Wednesday that an extended pause is possible for those 'negotiating in good faith.' 'There are 18 important trading partners. We are working toward deals on those,' he said. Bessent said it is likely that for countries or trading blocs such as the EU, Washington would decide to 'roll the date forward to continue the good faith negotiations.' The Treasury chief added that following conversations with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, 'it's my belief that with smaller countries where we have lower levels of trade, we may be able to do a one-size-fits-all regional deal.' Trump's wide-ranging tariffs and higher rates on goods from China have roiled financial markets, snagged supply chains and weighed on consumer sentiment. While many of the levies also face court challenges, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has dismissed concerns that these could prompt countries to slow-run negotiations. – AFP
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Most G7 members ready to lower Russian oil price cap without US
FILE PHOTO: Russian flag with stock graph and an oil pump jack miniature model are seen in this illustration taken October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) -Most countries in the Group of Seven nations are prepared to go it alone and lower the G7 price cap on Russian oil even if U.S. President Donald Trump decides to opt out, four sources familiar with the matter said. G7 country leaders are due to meet on June 15-17 in Canada where they will discuss the price cap first agreed in late 2022. The cap was designed to allow Russian oil to be sold to third countries using Western insurance services provided the price was no more than $60 a barrel. The European Union and Britain have been pushing to lower the price for weeks after a fall in global oil prices made the current $60 cap nearly irrelevant. The sources, who declined to be named, said the EU and Britain are ready to lead the charge and go it alone, backed by the other European G7 countries and Canada. They said it is still unclear what the U.S. will decide, though the Europeans are pushing for a united decision at the meeting. Japan's position also remains uncertain, they said. "There is a push among European countries to reduce the oil price cap to $45 from $60. There are positive signals from Canada, Britain and possibly the Japanese. We will use the G7 to try to get the U.S. on board," one of the sources said. The White House had no immediate comment. During the G7 finance ministers meeting in the Canadian Rockies last month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained unconvinced there was a need to lower the cap, according to sources. However some U.S. Senators may endorse the idea, including Lindsay Graham, who in recent weeks told reporters he supports lowering the cap. Graham is pushing a hard-hitting new set of Russia sanctions that could impose steep tariffs on buyers of Russian oil. The EU has proposed lowering the price to $45 a barrel in its latest 18th package of sanctions. The package must have unanimity from member states in order for it to be adopted, which could take several weeks. Russia's largest export grade, Urals, trades at around a $10 a barrel discount to the Dated Brent benchmark out of Baltic ports. Brent futures have been trading below $70 a barrel since early April. Sources said Washington's buy-in was not essential to lower the cap owing to Britain's dominance in global shipping insurance, and the EU's influence on the Western rules-abiding tanker fleet. The U.S., however, does matter when it comes to dollar-denominated payments for oil and its banking system. The EU and its Western allies have been progressively cracking down on Russia's shadow fleet of tankers and related actors, which work to circumvent the cap. The pressure has started to hurt Moscow's revenues and Western allies hope this will push more of the oil trade back under the cap. Russia's state-owned oil producer Rosneft reported a 14.4% slump in profits last year. (Reporting by Julia Payne and John Irish; Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Washington; Editing by Jan Harvey)
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
European foreign ministers ready to toughen action against Russia
Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul, Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attend a joint press conference, on the day of a meeting to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and security in Europe, at Villa Madama in Rome, Italy, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane ROME (Reuters) -Foreign ministers from large European countries said on Thursday they were ready to step up pressure on Russia, "including through further sanctions" involving the energy and banking sector, to weaken Moscow in its war with Ukraine. The meeting in Rome involved representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and the European Union. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and a Ukrainian representative also joined the talks. "We are determined to keep Russian sovereign assets in our jurisdictions immobilised until Russia ceases its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused," the countries said in a statement. (Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin Jones)
