Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had a face-to-face discussion with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and thanked him for financial and humanitarian aid, including support for the energy sector, and for the initiative to take patronage over the reconstruction of several Ukrainian settlements.
During the face-to-face meeting, held on the sidelines of the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Vučić reaffirmed Serbia’s strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a statement published on the Ukrainian president’s website.
The leaders discussed Ukraine’s and Serbia’s paths to European Union integration and bilateral cooperation, the statement said.
Zelensky invited Serbia to join in Ukraine’s reconstruction and to participate in the conference on Ukraine’s recovery, which will be held on July 10 and 11 in Rome, it added.
Vučić previously wrote on Instagram that he had a “significant and open conversation with Zelensky on key issues of contemporary geopolitical challenges facing Europe and the entire world.”
“We exchanged views on the importance of achieving long-term and sustainable peace, respecting international law, and the role of diplomacy in overcoming conflicts. We also discussed economic topics, as well as common goals in achieving the strongest possible joint cooperation in various social spheres as the foundation for any further progress,” Vučić stated.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon welcomed Vučić’s participation in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit, stating that it could be interpreted as strong support for the Ukrainian leadership.
Vučić was the only participant in the Summit who did not sign the adopted declaration because, as he told Serbian media, it called for sanctions against Russia due to the war against Ukraine.
However, Vučić said that Zelensky “showed respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity” because there were no Kosovo representatives at the Summit, adding that this was a “great gesture” towards Serbia that it would “certainly appreciate.”
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Source: N1, Photo: Reuters