Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, announced this during a television appearance, according to Ukrinform.

He noted the importance of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first official visit to Serbia, which began on Friday.

“We will discuss a number of issues. I won’t announce the agenda right now, since negotiations haven’t started yet, but it should be generally clear. These are our bilateral contacts at the political and economic levels. This certainly includes coordinating positions on European integration. Let me remind you that Serbia, like Ukraine, is a candidate country for accession to the European Union. We will certainly discuss these issues as well. Ukraine needs to open the remaining clusters, and Serbia needs to open a number of clusters. So we’ll talk about that, too,” Zhovkva said.

According to him, during these discussions, it will be impossible to avoid addressing the issue of Russian aggression and its impact on the entire continent.

Responding to a question about statements from the Serbian side that it does not wish to change its position regarding non-participation in sanctions against Russia, the deputy head of the Presidential Office stated that this issue will also be discussed, particularly with President Aleksandar Vučić.

“This issue is not merely, so to speak, a moral one. It is obvious that it is probably not entirely correct today not to impose sanctions on an aggressor country while being part of the European continent,” he said.

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Zhovkva explained that one of the obligations of every country moving toward EU membership is to align itself with the foreign policy statements, steps, and actions taken by the European Union.

“Therefore, it is certainly important that countries wishing to become full members of the European Union identify as closely as possible with its policies,” Zhovkva concluded.

As reported by Ukrinform, Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Serbia on his first official visit.

Photos from Ukrinform can be purchased here