According to Serbian Economist, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, during which the parties discussed European integration in detail and agreed to stay in touch. Zelensky reported on the conversation on his Telegram channel. The leaders also touched on coordination on regional security and the immediate international agenda.
We remind you that the day before, the European Commission published its annual reports on EU enlargement. The document on Serbia notes both the advanced elements of reforms and sensitive issues of foreign policy alignment with the EU. Vučić publicly reiterated his position that membership should be assessed on the basis of merit criteria rather than political alignment, against the backdrop of discussions on sanctions policy and dialogue on Kosovo.
At the same time, Kyiv is seeking to accelerate its own negotiation track with the EU. On the day the enlargement package was published, Zelensky called for the process to be brought to the opening of all clusters and for accession to be targeted by 2030, recognizing the need for further anti-corruption and institutional reforms.
In the context of the European Commission’s report, Belgrade is set to engage in dialogue with Brussels on aligning its foreign policy and economic agreements, while Kyiv is focusing on implementing recommendations for the next stage of negotiations. The positions of the leaders following the conversation indicate a willingness to maintain working contacts and exchange experiences in sectors related to the European agenda.
The previous confirmed call between Zelensky and Vučić took place on May 22, 2025.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1685
According to Serbian Economist, Russian oil and gas company Lukoil has announced that it has reached an agreement with Gunvor Group to sell all of its foreign assets, including its Serbian subsidiary Lukoil International GmbH (Austria) and its shares in Serbia.
Lukoil’s official statement indicates that Gunvor’s offer has been accepted and that the company undertakes not to negotiate with other potential buyers. The completion of the deal depends on obtaining permission from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) due to the sanctions imposed on Lukoil.
The sale is related to “restrictive measures” imposed by certain countries on Lukoil and its foreign subsidiaries. The deal involves the transfer of networks, assets, and business to the Serbian company Lukoil Serbia.
According to the company’s official data, at the end of 2025, there were 112 Lukoil Serbia gas stations operating in Serbia. Lukoil was second in terms of the number of stations on the Serbian market.
The Serbian retail fuel market is estimated at approximately €3.5 billion in revenue for 2024.
Gunvor Group Ltd is an international energy trader registered in Cyprus with its headquarters in Geneva. In 2024, the company’s revenue amounted to approximately $136 billion. Gunvor specializes in trading crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG, and also has assets in infrastructure (terminals, storage facilities) around the world.
According to Serbian Economist, the Serbian government will allocate €10.6 million in subsidies to Lafarge Beočin, part of the Holcim group, for the construction of a new cement production and distribution plant in Obrenovac, according to the Serbian Ministry of Economy.
According to an agreement between Economy Minister Andrijana Mesarovic and Lafarge Director Dimitrij Knegić, the company will invest €112.25 million in the project and create 51 permanent jobs by the end of 2026.
Lafarge has committed to paying new employees a salary at least 20% above the minimum wage and to maintaining a total workforce of at least 320 people for five years after the project’s completion.
The subsidies will be paid in three stages — in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Lafarge Beočin, founded in 1839, is one of the largest cement producers in Serbia and is part of the international Holcim group. The plant in Beočin is the oldest cement plant in the Balkans, with a production capacity of over 2 million tons of cement per year.
According to data from the Statistical Office of Serbia, the country’s annual cement production is around 2.5-2.8 million tons, of which more than 70% is accounted for by Holcim / Lafarge.
The Ukrainian children’s art festival “Veselka” was held in Novi Sad, Serbia, organized with the participation of the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ukrainian diaspora. The event became a platform for cultural unity and support for Ukrainian families living in Serbia.
The Veselka festival brought together children and families of Ukrainian origin from different cities in Serbia, offering them master classes, concerts, and interactive zones. The aim of the event was to preserve ties with Ukrainian roots, support the emotional well-being of migrant children, and strengthen the cultural infrastructure of the diaspora.
Exact data on the number of Ukrainian citizens and residents in Serbia varies. According to the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, approximately 22,000 Ukrainian citizens have been registered in the country since the start of the war.
However, statistics on the number of Ukrainians living permanently or under temporary protection are not published regularly.
Japan’s Toyo Tires has announced plans to build an innovation center in the city of Injiya, Serbia. The new facility will focus on research and development in the tire industry and related technologies, a Toyo representative told local business media.
According to the project, the center will include laboratories for materials science, test benches, and research units that will collaborate with regional universities and technology startups. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
Toyo Tires also plans to integrate the Serbian center into the company’s global research network, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and resources between its sites in Asia, Europe, and America. This will help accelerate the development of new compounds, innovative mixtures, and environmentally friendly solutions.
Investing in Serbia as part of this project is seen as the second stage of Toyo’s expansion in the Balkans — the company already has production facilities in Serbia and now intends to strengthen the scientific and technical core of its business.
Toyo Tires is a global tire manufacturer based in Japan. The company has been in operation since 1945 and manufactures tires for passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and specialized equipment.
Toyo is known for its innovative solutions in the field of compounds, environmentally friendly compositions, and high testing standards. The company supplies products to more than 100 countries around the world, and its research and development network includes centers in Japan, the US, Europe, and Asia.
Toyo also actively collaborates with automotive brands and participates in motorsports, which allows it to test and develop technologies under extreme conditions.
Japan’s Toyo Tires to build innovation center in Serbia
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1590
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia held a reception to mark the return of the diplomatic mission to Kyiv and the opening of new premises at 48 Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street. The event brought together diplomats, representatives of government agencies, business and academic circles of Ukraine.
During his speech, Serbian Ambassador to Ukraine Andon Sapundzi emphasized that the opening of the embassy symbolizes “Serbia’s return to Kyiv” and the resumption of active cooperation between the two countries.
“Our workspace is not yet complete, but I wanted to share this joy with you right now — Serbia is back!” he said, addressing the guests.
In his speech, the diplomat emphasized the deep historical ties between the Ukrainian and Serbian peoples. In particular, in the 18th century, more than 50,000 Serbs settled in the territory of modern Ukraine — near Bakhmut and in the Kirovohrad region, founding Slavianoserbia and New Serbia. At the same time, as early as the 17th century, Ukrainians migrated to Serbia, mainly to Vojvodina.
The ambassador also noted that since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 100,000 Ukrainians have found refuge in Serbia, set up companies there, and their children have begun to learn Serbian.
Serbia provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including projects to build underground kindergartens near the front line, supplies equipment for energy infrastructure, and organizes educational programs for children from Sumy and Kharkiv.
Special mention was made of Serbian language teachers and students who maintained scientific and cultural ties between the countries even during the most difficult years of the war.
“We are here to live, work, and share everything with you, our dear Ukrainian friends,” the ambassador concluded his speech.
Ukraine and Serbia (then SFRY) established diplomatic relations on April 15, 1994. The Serbian Embassy in Kyiv began operating in 1995, but in 2022 it temporarily suspended its activities due to the security situation. In the fall of 2025, the diplomatic mission officially resumed its work in Kyiv at 48 Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street. The Ukrainian Embassy in Belgrade has been operating since 1995.
