Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has pledged to halt arms exports to buyers if it is confirmed that the weapons ultimately end up in Ukraine. Speaking on national television, Vucic said he would issue a decree warning that contracts would be voided if there are suspicions that the weapons are being misused by end recipients or sent to the battlefield without Serbia’s knowledge.
His remarks came in response to accusations from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), which alleged that Serbian defense manufacturers are supplying weapons to Ukraine in violation of Serbia’s officially declared neutrality. The SVR likened the situation to being “shot in the back.” According to Russian intelligence, Serbia has been sending arms to Kyiv using falsified end-user certificates and intermediaries that include NATO members Czechia, Poland, and Bulgaria, along with several African countries.
Vucic said he has discussed the matter with Vladimir Putin, both in official meetings and private talks, and that the two have agreed to form a joint working group in order to investigate the allegations — which Vucic claimed were not entirely accurate. The Serbian president also mentioned that two ambassadors had raised concerns about alleged arms shipments to Russia through a Turkish company. He also pointed out that Serbia’s defense industry plays a key role in the country’s economy, with 23,000 direct jobs and another 25,000 indirectly depending on it.
In 2024, the Financial Times reported that Ukraine had received Serbian ammunition worth around €800 million through third countries. Vucic called the figure “broadly accurate” but maintained that Serbia does not supply weapons directly to either Russia or Ukraine, signing contracts with Western countries instead. He added that Serbia bears no responsibility for how the weapons are used after export, adding that his main focus is on ensuring the legality of the deals and safeguarding the interests of Serbian citizens.
Speaking to The Insider, political analyst Aleksandar Djokić said Vucic is facing the threat of blackmail from Russia, which remains the only major power openly supporting his government amid mass protests and declining approval ratings — now at around 35%:
“Vucic received an FSB report claiming that the Serbian government did not use sonic weapons against peaceful protesters in March. He then traveled to Moscow for the Victory Day parade. It’s important to remember that Serbia’s three-year gas contract with Russia has expired and was recently extended for only four months. Russia’s pressure regarding Serbian ammunition supplies to Ukraine suggests it is now demanding repayment for its political support. Most likely, however, Vučić will try to stall the process, hoping the active phase of the war ends by year’s end.”