Latest news with #AleksandarVučić
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Serbian PM calls trade deal a ‘new page' in Egypt ties
Egypt - Serbian Prime Minister Guro Macut has described a new free trade agreement with Egypt as a 'new page' in bilateral relations, stating that both countries are working to implement its terms to boost trade and investment. Speaking at the Egyptian-Serbian Business Forum in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, Macut said the agreement aims to 'achieve the optimal exploitation of possible opportunities to increase trade exchange and push investments' for the economic growth of both nations. He said the efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation have become tangible thanks to the support of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, which paves the way for stronger ties. Macut highlighted the long-standing ties between the two nations, which he noted were founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement and are celebrating 117 years of diplomatic relations. He said the strategic partnership was established during Sisi's 2022 visit to Belgrade and reaffirmed when the draft free trade deal was signed during Vučić's visit to Cairo in July 2024. While noting that economic exchange currently stands at approximately $122m, the prime minister asserted that there is potential to increase it significantly. He added that around 40 Egyptian-owned companies operate in Serbia and that joint manufacturing projects have already begun in the Egyptian market. He presented Serbia as an economically stable and safe investment destination, citing its strategic geographical location, government support, skilled workforce, and attractiveness for the software industry. Macut also mentioned Serbia's efforts to advance the 'Open Balkan' initiative to create a common market for the free movement of goods in the Western Balkans. Macut extended a specific invitation for Egyptian participation in the Belgrade Expo 2027, encouraging a large number of investors to attend to explore cooperation opportunities and create a platform to enhance trade. He also expressed hope that Serbian companies and products would find their place in the Egyptian market. 'We look forward to a new partnership and more cooperation,' he concluded.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Participants of Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit support Kyiv's path to NATO
Participants of the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit, held in Odesa on Wednesday 11 June, have confirmed their support for the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Kyiv and other countries in the region. Source: the summit declaration released by the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda Details: The leaders of Ukraine and Southeast European states agreed that "NATO membership remains the best cost-effective security option for Ukraine". "We reaffirmed our support to the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of partners of the region. We support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership," the declaration reads. The summit participants also stated that neither Russia nor any other non-NATO state "has the right to veto the Alliance's enlargement". "In the same vein, we fully support Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference," they added. Background: The fourth Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa has been attended in person by the leaders of Greece, Croatia and Montenegro, as well as President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, marking his first visit to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbian president says his country ready to take on reconstruction of one or two Ukrainian cities or regions
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has stated that his country is ready to participate in the reconstruction of one or two Ukrainian regions. Source: Vučić at the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, as reported by European Pravda Details: During his speech, Vučić said that Serbia would remain committed to international law and the UN Charter in the context of supporting the territorial integrity of states, and this stance could be beneficial for Ukraine. "I can imagine that Ukrainian citizens are fed up with words about support and assistance to Ukraine," Vučić stated. He also said that Serbia might have been "helpful" in efforts to achieve a ceasefire but now wished to contribute in a more practical way. "I would like to take one or two cities or regions that we could help rebuild. I think this would be very clear and visible to the Ukrainian people, so they could receive concrete support," Vučić stated. He also emphasised that Ukraine can "always count" on Serbia's humanitarian aid and political support for its territorial integrity. "We are ready to listen to you and see how we can assist you," said the Serbian president. Background: This is Serbian President Vučić's first visit to Ukraine. Vučić follows pro-Russian policy, with Serbia remaining the only European country that has not imposed sanctions against Russia, despite pressure from the EU. Vučić justifies this by citing potential economic losses and domestic political considerations. Vučić, along with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, were the only European leaders to attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on 9 May. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 – ed.] Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Euronews
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Serbia's Vučić visits Ukraine for the first time in EU realignment bid
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is visiting Ukraine on Wednesday, in what marks his first ever trip to the country. During a one-day trip, Vučić is scheduled to take part in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Serbia's Presidential Office announced. According to Euronews' European political sources, the Serbian president's participation in the summit signals Serbia's realignment with the EU regarding Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Serbia has positioned itself as neutral when it comes to Russia's war against Ukraine, but Vučić's recent visit to Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin's Victory Day parade drew sharp criticism from Brussels regarding Serbia's EU membership bid. Brussels issued a stark warning, indicating that Vučić's visit to Moscow would violate EU membership criteria and potentially hurt Serbia's accession process to the 27-member bloc. According to Euronews' European political sources, Vučić's participation in the summit in Odesa and its symbolism should lead to Brussels reopening and expediting Serbia's EU enlargement chapters. In this context, as a gesture towards Serbia, Ukraine did not invite Kosovo to the summit, the same sources told Euronews. Just recently, Russia accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, calling it a "stab in the back" from one of Moscow's longest-standing European allies. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued a statement claiming that "Serbian defence enterprises, contrary to the 'neutrality' declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv.' The statement alleged that the export of the Serbian arms to Ukraine was going through NATO intermediaries, "primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria." "Recently, exotic options involving African states have also been used for this purpose," SVR said. Vučić denied the accusations, saying that although a contract with the Czech Republic exists, it does not permit exporting Serbian-made materiel to another country. He also stated Moscow and Belgrade would create a "working group" to establish how Serbian-made weapons reached Ukraine. The Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa will gather representatives from 12 southeastern European countries. Among them is Romanian President Nicusor Dan, who is making his first trip to Ukraine since winning the May election. Russia has regularly targeted the port city of Odesa in missile and drone attacks.** On Tuesday, two people were killed after drone attacks hit residential buildings and medical facilities, including a maternity ward, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said 13 people had also been injured there. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended his centrist, pro-European government before parliament on Wednesday, seeking to reassert control and rally his fractured coalition after suffering a bitter political defeat. Tusk requested a vote of confidence in the wake of the loss of Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a close ally, to conservative Karol Nawrocki in the 1 June presidential runoff. Backed by US President Donald Trump, Nawrocki is set to replace outgoing President Andrzej Duda, another Law and Justice or PiS party-backed conservative who repeatedly blocked Tusk's reform efforts. "I am asking for a vote of confidence with full conviction that we have a mandate to govern, to take full responsibility for what is happening in Poland," Tusk, who heads the Civic Platform (PO) coalition, said in Warsaw. "Anyone who is ready to move forward with me, with the government, and above all with our voters, regardless of these momentary emotions, and build a better Poland, should vote today for a vote of confidence in our government," Tusk said. The vote, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon, is widely expected to go in Tusk's favour. His four-party coalition holds a narrow but stable majority in the 460-seat Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament. A loss would trigger the formation of a caretaker government and may open the door for an early parliamentary election. That could potentially return power to the conservative Law and Justice party, in coalition with the far-right Confederation party, whose candidate placed third in the presidential race. Tusk had long counted on a Trzaskowski victory to break the institutional deadlock created by Duda's vetoes. Instead, he now faces an incoming president aligned with the nationalist opposition and openly hostile to his government's legislative priorities. "We cannot close our eyes to reality," he said. "A president who was reluctant to accept the changes we proposed for Poland and our voters is being replaced by a president who is at least equally reluctant to those changes and proposals." But he also argued that Trzaskowski's narrow defeat indicates that there is continued strong support for those who share his views. The election result rattled the already uneasy governing coalition, which spans from centre-left to centre-right and has struggled to deliver on key campaign pledges, including liberalising Poland's abortion law and legalising same-sex civil unions. Tusk acknowledged the growing strains in Wednesday's address. Many are also blaming Tusk for contributing to Trzaskowski's loss. Much of the criticism has come from within his coalition, as his partners examine whether they are better off sticking with him or risking a collapse of the coalition. Some are calling for a new prime minister to be selected. There are questions about what Tusk can realistically achieve before the next parliamentary election, scheduled for late 2027, and whether the coalition will even survive that long amid a surge in popularity for the far right. Polish media and political analysts are debating whether this might be the 68-year-old Tusk's political twilight. "I know the taste of victory, I know the bitterness of defeat, but I don't know the word surrender," Tusk said. As part of his fresh start, he announced plans for a government reconstruction in July that will include "new faces." He said a government spokesman would be appointed in June, an acknowledgement that the coalition needs a way to present a unified message. So far Tusk has sought to communicate his policies to the public himself on social media and in news conferences. Tusk served as Polish prime minister from 2007 to 2014 and then as president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. He became Poland's prime minister again in December 2023 in a country hit by the pandemic and inflation and facing significant political divisions. In a sign of those divisions, half of the parliament hall was empty on Wednesday, with lawmakers from the right-wing PiS party boycotting his speech. Tusk said their absence showed disrespect to the nation. Most of the power in Poland's parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. However, the president can veto legislation and represent the country abroad.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbia's president heads to Ukraine for unannounced visit
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić is heading to Ukraine on Wednesday 11 June for a one-day visit. Source: press service for the Serbian president, as reported by European Pravda Details: This marks Vučić's first visit to Ukraine. The Serbian president is set to take part in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit. Unlike previous official trips, Vučić's visit was not announced in advance and the Serbian public only became aware of it after his departure. It is worth noting that Vučić, together with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, were the only European leaders to attend Russian leader Vladimir Putin's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on 9 May. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.] Vučić had previously insisted that Serbia's European path would not be jeopardised by his visit to Moscow. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
