Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday that he was returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos with a “position of respect” for Serbia on the global stage, after holding talks with more than 30 presidents and prime ministers and what he described as his best-ever meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
Speaking to state broadcaster RTS, Vucic said he had lengthy bilateral meetings with four heads of state, as well as discussions with numerous European and world leaders, calling these encounters a key outcome of his participation at the forum.
He said the Czech Republic had decided to take part in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, a move he said strengthens Serbia’s international standing, adding that Swiss President Guy Parmelin and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis had announced plans to visit Serbia.
Vucic also said he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog, stressing the importance of such contacts amid what he described as increasingly complex relations between the United States and the European Union.
Relations with the United States and the EU
The Serbian president said Europe and the United States would no longer always act in unison and that the world was entering a new phase of international relations. “One chapter of history has been closed, and from tomorrow it will be written differently,” Vucic said.
He stressed that Serbia seeks a strategic partnership with the United States, while remaining committed to its European path. Commenting on remarks by U.S. envoy Richard Grenell that Serbia should follow the American rather than the European path, Vucic said Serbia “is located on the European continent” and must not show weakness through sudden geopolitical shifts.
Economy and energy
On the oil company NIS, Vucic said Serbia had ensured that the Pancevo refinery would continue operating, as stipulated in existing agreements, and that the state would increase its ownership stake in the company. He added that Serbia would retain control over the level of mining royalties, saying this protected national interests.
Vucic also thanked the International Monetary Fund for what he described as positive assessments of Serbia’s economy, noting that public debt was at its lowest level relative to GDP in decades.
Ukraine and global tensions
The Serbian president said he believed fighting in Ukraine could stop within the next two to three months, though without a lasting peace. He said one of the key demands of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was Ukraine’s accession to the EU by 2027, a prospect he said would trigger intense debate within the bloc.
“The situation is extremely complex and requires restraint and careful weighing of words,” Vucic said, urging Serbian officials to avoid statements that could harm the country internationally.
Vucic concluded that Serbia has “only one team – Serbia” and that preserving peace and economic stability would remain its top priority amid shifting global circumstances.