In a surprising turn of events, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić expressed regret on Monday after Serbia cast its vote in favor of a United Nations resolution aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. During an evening broadcast on Happy Television, he stated, “I think Serbia made a mistake today, I apologize to the citizens for that. I take the blame for it myself because I’m probably tired and burdened and can’t get everything done.”
UN resolution and the voting dynamics
The U.N. General Assembly approved the resolution on Monday with the backing of numerous European nations, advocating for peace in Ukraine. While the resolution found support from 93 countries, both Russia and the United States voted against it. Eighteen nations opposed the resolution, and 65 countries opted to abstain from voting.
Later the same day, the United States, in alignment with Russia, voted on a separate U.S.-backed U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. However, this resolution did not designate Russia as an aggressor nor did it reaffirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Notably, this resolution received no support from five European Security Council members, including Serbia.
Vučić’s reflections and Russia’s response
Vučić articulated his belief that Serbia should have opted for abstention on the European-backed resolution, mirroring its stance on the American resolution. “As far as the American resolution is concerned, we voted exactly as it should have been. We abstained. We should have abstained, in my opinion, from the European resolution as well,” he remarked. He added, “As you can see, I am saying this at a time when it is quite clear that I will lose favor or political points in the EU because of this. I believe that Serbia had to abstain.”
In response to Vučić’s public apology, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Russia accepted Serbia’s expression of regret. “Of course, we heard it — of course, we accepted it. Indeed, technical errors do happen and, of course, such a prompt reaction from the head of state is very appealing to us,” Peskov remarked.
Serbia’s historical ties with Russia have been characterized by cultural, religious, and economic connections, with the country relying on Moscow for gas supplies. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Serbia has encountered increasing pressure to distance itself from Moscow, yet it has resisted the imposition of sanctions, striving instead to maintain a balance between its relations with Russia and the European Union.
Following the vote, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed gratitude to the nations that supported the European-backed resolution. He stated, “Ukraine and the wider international community will also undoubtedly note the company of Member States that voted against.” He acknowledged the challenges of advocating for truth, asserting that it is ultimately the truth that shapes history. “We appreciate each of the 93 U.N. Member States that supported our resolution, all its truthful language, and its clear desire to achieve a just and lasting peace,” Sybiha concluded.