PUBLICATION: Analysis
A Forgotten Friendship: Serbo-Ukrainian Relations and Pro-Russian Narratives
The relations between the two countries from the moment Ukraine gained its independence, in 1991, to date can be marked as formally friendly relations. The peak of friendship and solidarity came with NATO’s bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999, which has remained one of the most traumatic episodes in Serbian contemporary history.
During that episode, Ukrainian solidarity was demonstrated through Ukraine’s attempts to be an impartial mediator, its condemnation of the military intervention without the mandate of the UN Security Council, as well as through provided assistance.
Today, that episode is easily forgotten in Serbia’s political discourse, especially by political leaders. Besides, although the relations between the two countries continue to be formally friendly, they are still burdened with stereotypes prevailing in Serbian society as a product of very stench pro-Russian narratives in the past few years, which have made Russia and its leadership very popular in Serbia. This popularity, along with the Serbian policy of balancing between the West and Russia, makes the relations between Serbia and Ukraine not hostile but relations charged with contradictions.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Responsibility for the content of this publication belongs solely to Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.
DETAILS
AUTHORS
SHARE
PDF PREVIEW
RELATED
Date: 22.10.2025.
Author: Jelena Pejić Nikić |
This policy paper examines Western Balkan stakeholders' perspectives on what is needed for meaningful enlargement and the EU reforms they consider essential for an effective expanded Union. Field research in spring and summer 2024 included 16 high-level interviews with representatives from all six countries of the region.
Date: 13.10.2025.
Author: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
The subject of analysis is the content related to student and civic protests distributed on the Telegram channel “BUNT je stanje duha.”
Date: 04.08.2025.
Author: Vuk Vuksanović |
The analysis is based on the "Security Radar" public opinion survey conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in selected European countries, including Serbia, and a comparison of public opinion findings for 2022 and 2025.
