This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Outgoing Czech President Milos Zeman has said Serbia’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia could be an advantage for the possible role of mediator in the war in Ukraine.
Speaking on January 30 in Belgrade, Zeman said that “the mediator must not clearly stand on one or the other side,” making Serbia’s position a potential advantage.
Zeman, speaking at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, said China and Turkey were other countries that could be mediators in the war.
Turkey has formally offered multiple times to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. There’s been no indication that either side in the conflict is prepared to accept any mediation offers.
Vucic said that both he and Zeman condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, adding that Serbia was unique in Europe for not having imposed sanctions on Russia.
“We never hide that,” Vucic said.
At the same time, he announced greater humanitarian aid and support for Ukraine.
“We will participate in the construction of certain cities and towns in Ukraine. We have already received an offer from their ambassador,” Vucic said.
Vucic also said that “the people of Serbia will never forget” Zeman’s apology for the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia in 1999.
“He showed courage that no one in Europe has. He showed how great and brave people can make history. What he said two years ago remains in the hearts of our citizens,” Vucic said.
Zeman apologized in 2021 during a meeting with Vucic in Prague for the bombing for which he gave his consent on behalf of the government as then-prime minister of the Czech Republic.
NATO launched the bombing because of crimes committed by Serbian forces and the exodus of the Albanian population during the war in Kosovo.
The bombing lasted 78 days and ended with an agreement under which Serbian military and police forces withdrew from Kosovo.
“Two years ago, during [Vucic’s] visit to Prague, I asked to be forgiven. I did that only once in my life,” Zeman said on January 30.
Zeman, whose visit to Serbia is part of a farewell tour at the end of his five-year mandate, caused major divisions in the country with his actions, including advocating for closer ties with Beijing and, until Russia invaded Ukraine, with Moscow.
Zeman’s successor, retired Czech Army General Petr Pavel, was elected on January 28 in a second round of voting. Pavel won after a campaign that featured strong support for NATO and the European Union and support for aid to Ukraine.
