Serbia's Vucic to Attend Moscow Parade, Defying EU Warnings

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed he will attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, despite strong warnings from the European Union that this move could jeopardize Serbia’s prospects for EU membership. Vucic announced that a Serbian military unit will participate in the parade, and for the first time, Serbia will be involved in co-organizing the event. His decision is widely viewed as a show of support for Vladimir Putin and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, further straining Serbia’s already stalled EU accession talks, as Serbia has also refused to impose sanctions on Russia. The EU has explicitly instructed candidate countries not to attend the parade, but Vucic will be joined by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has criticized the EU’s warnings, and Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. Domestically, Vucic continues to face significant student-led anti-corruption protests that have unsettled his administration. This defiance underscores Serbia’s growing alignment with Russia, even as it claims to seek EU membership.