Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić publicly stated that he did not sign the declaration at the Odessa summit and, according to him, “did not betray Russia
" This statement was made at the end of the event, which gathered representatives from several countries in the region, but was marked by special political undertones due to his position regarding Ukraine and Russia. According to Vučić, he had no intention of endorsing the declaration signed by other participants of the "Ukraine – Southeastern Europe" summit. It is worth noting that Ukrainian media and official Kyiv emphasize that it was the Serbian president who was the only one to refuse to put his signature on the document. In a conversation with journalists after the event, Vučić emphasized: "I did not betray Russia by visiting Odessa, as some Serbian media are trying to claim here and there." He asserted that he remained "the only one who did not sign" the declaration because, in his words, other participants "are ready to make any decisions" that, in one way or another, are directed against Russia. The President of Serbia emphasized that his country is defending its own interests and acting in accordance with international law, guided by sovereignty and its own political position. Vučić stressed that he is proud of Serbia's political course, its independence, and autonomy, and promised to continue acting along these lines. It is important to note that most summit participants supported a unified condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and called on the international community to strengthen sanctions against Russia. The organizers themselves issued an official declaration today, emphasizing that Russia's war against Ukraine is condemned "most decisively," and that the participants reaffirmed their aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration, including support for Ukraine's and other regional states' candidate ambitions. This was Vučić's first visit to Ukraine, which is largely perceived as a political gesture capable of strengthening his internal position and emphasizing Serbia's independence in foreign policy. However, his refusal to sign a joint document during the summit became a significant signal for the European community and an additional confirmation that unresolved regional conflicts and internal political ambitions will remain subjects of heated discussion for a long time.