Serbia, Ukraine Target Year-End Free Trade Deal as Belgrade Pledges 2 Million Euros for Energy
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 7
Serbia, Ukraine Target Year-End Free Trade Deal as Belgrade Pledges 2 Million Euros for Energy
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 7
Summary
Belgrade wrapped up Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first Serbia visit since 2019 with a pledge to finalize a free trade agreement by year-end, ending talks that have dragged on for more than two decades.
The push matters for Serbia’s WTO and EU ambitions, while Ukraine signaled movement after blocking the deal since 2005 over agricultural quotas and tariffs.
Aleksandar Vucic also backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity and EU bid, promised help rebuilding war-damaged cities, and said Serbia would provide humanitarian, infrastructure and winter energy support.
2 million euros in Serbian energy aid and talks on the Danube Corridor, food security and logistics underscored the economic focus, while the sides also signed an animal health and food safety memorandum.
The outreach still stops short of a full geopolitical break with Moscow: Serbia refuses sanctions on Russia, depends on Russian gas, and both leaders said military cooperation was not discussed.