Volodymyr Zelensky will make a visit to Serbia on Saturday, marking his first trip to this country since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, will visit Serbia on Saturday, marking his first trip to this traditionally Russia-aligned state since the beginning of the invasion in 2022. A senior Ukrainian official stated that the purpose of the visit is to "free the Serbs from the Russian camp," considering that this represents a "slap for the Russians."

Zelensky, who has intensified foreign trips to gain international support, has not visited Serbia since taking office in 2019.

Although Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia and relies on Moscow for gas supplies, it is a candidate for joining the European Union and must maintain a delicate balance between Brussels and Moscow. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has held meetings with Russian leaders but has refused to publicly condemn Russia's aggression in Ukraine.