Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will on Saturday make his first visit to Serbia since Russia's invasion, a report said Thursday, highlighting the symbolic importance of the trip to Moscow's traditional ally.
"We need to pull the Serbs away from Russia's side," a senior Ukrainian official told the Agence France-Presse (AFP), calling Zelenskyy's visit to Belgrade a "slap in the face for the Russians."
Zelenskyy – who has toured much of the world to whip up support for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion – has not visited the country since he became president in 2019.
Serbia is seen as one of the most Moscow-friendly countries in Europe.
It has not sanctioned Russia over its 2022 invasion and has maintained close energy ties.
