Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić intends to pay an official visit to Ukraine in the near future, according to Serbian and Ukrainian sources. The main purpose of the trip will be to participate in high-level events in Kyiv and hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Key expectations from the visit:
Bilateral meeting with Zelensky The agenda will focus on discussing the current geopolitical situation, prospects for European integration, humanitarian cooperation, and regional stability issues. The visit is seen as a step toward deepening political dialogue between the countries.
Participation in an international conference
Vucic is expected to participate in a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, where Serbia may present initiatives in the areas of humanitarian aid, infrastructure cooperation, and education.
Context and significance of the visit:
• Policy of neutrality Although Serbia has not joined the sanctions against Russia, the country continues to support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and participate in providing humanitarian aid. This visit could strengthen Belgrade’s international position as a constructive mediator in European politics.
• Deepening the European course According to analysts, the upcoming visit is also linked to Serbia’s course towards rapprochement with the EU. It can be seen as a diplomatic signal of Belgrade’s commitment to European values, especially ahead of important decisions on the future expansion of the union.
Possible consequences:
Serbia – Ukraine
The visit could give new impetus to relations, especially in the humanitarian sphere and education.
Serbia – EU
This will be a symbolic confirmation of the European vector, strengthening trust on the part of Brussels.
Serbia’s domestic policy
Vučić is demonstrating a balance between Eastern and Western partners, which could strengthen his position within the country.
Belgrade. June 10. SERBIAN ECONOMIST
For the first time in two years, the average microloan amount has decreased slightly
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, Ukrainians have signed more than 2.17 million contracts totaling nearly UAH 13 billion with microfinance organizations (MFOs) this year. The number of microloans increased by 8%, but the average loan amount decreased for the first time in two years, amounting to UAH 5,858. In total, Ukrainians owed MFIs almost UAH 24.3 billion as of early April 2025. This is twice as much as at the beginning of the full-scale war.
Ukrainians signed over 2.17 million loan agreements with MFIs in the first quarter of 2025. This is 8% more than in the same period last year. The total amount of such agreements amounted to UAH 12.72 billion.
However, despite the increase in the number of loans, the average loan amount decreased for the first time in two years — by 2% compared to the same period last year, and currently stands at 5,858 UAH. Prior to this, the average check had only been growing.
On average, Ukrainians signed 724,000 agreements per month, which is slightly more than last year’s figure of 693,000 per month.
In total, Ukrainians owed MFIs UAH 24.28 billion as of April 1, 2025. This is twice as much as at the beginning of the full-scale war in April 2022. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the debt increased by UAH 4.3 billion, or 22%.
It should be noted that according to updated data from the NBU, Ukrainians’ debts did not decrease by 2.7 billion hryvnia, as was reported in previous reports, but instead increased by 1.4 billion hryvnia at the end of 2024. In total, the debt doubled in 2024, increasing by 10.7 billion hryvnia.
63% of microloans are taken for a term of 93 days to 1 year. The share of such agreements has remained almost unchanged. At the same time, long-term microloans (1 to 2 years) increased 15 times. Their share currently stands at 3.6%. Short-term loans (up to 31 days) have also become more popular: their share increased from 14.5% to 24%. However, the share of loans with a term of 32 to 92 days decreased more than fivefold, from 16.5% to 3%.
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/mfo-2025-1
On Tuesday, official events were held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kyiv to mark the 107th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Among the guests were representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, the government, the diplomatic corps, and expert and business circles of Ukraine.
Greeting those present, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliev called May 28 “a day that marks the birth of an independent nation rich in history, culture, and resilience.” In his speech, he drew a historical parallel between the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic of 1918 and the modern state:
“Exactly 107 years ago, on May 28, 1918, with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was founded — the first parliamentary democracy in the entire Muslim East. The ADR was created on the principles of freedom, equality, and national self-determination. It was not only a bold manifestation of our people’s right to statehood, but also an innovative example of democratic governance in the East,” he said.
The ambassador emphasized that although the ADR existed for only 23 months, it left a deep mark on the history of Azerbaijan.
“This experience of independent statehood became an important part of national identity when Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991 and proudly proclaimed itself the successor to the ADR. The Azerbaijani tricolor, national anthem, and coat of arms reflect the legacy of this historic republic,” Seymour Mardaliev emphasized.
He highlighted the successes in the field of clean energy, mentioning the launch of the Southern Gas Corridor, the development of the Black Sea submarine cable project, and the national “green growth” strategy, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050.
“Today, under the wise and far-sighted leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is a sovereign, democratic country that is successfully implementing the ideals of the ADR through effective governance, dynamic human capital development, and active foreign policy. We are experiencing the most successful period in our history,” the ambassador emphasized.
Speaking about the partnership with Ukraine, Mardaliev emphasized the strategic nature of bilateral relations. He also mentioned the recent political consultations between the two countries, including the visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga to Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan and Ukraine have traditionally strong ties based on mutual respect, trust, and support for each other’s territorial integrity. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan has been actively providing humanitarian aid, which has already reached a total of US$42 million. And we are ready to continue our support. Azerbaijan supplies energy equipment, finances the reconstruction of social infrastructure facilities in Irpin, and provides fuel for emergency services through SOCAR Ukraine. In February this year, President Aliyev signed a decree on additional aid to Ukraine in the amount of US$1 million. We also support humanitarian demining, in particular by supplying equipment and training specialists,” he said.
In his speech, Mardaliev also touched upon Azerbaijan’s achievements in the environmental sphere and at the global level:
“Azerbaijan has voluntarily committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050, and Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur are being transformed into green energy zones. We are actively working on transregional energy projects, in particular the Black Sea submarine cable project, which will allow us to export ‘green’ energy to Europe,” he said.
Special attention was paid to the issues of recovery and peace in the South Caucasus. The speech included messages about Baku’s desire for lasting peace in the region. In particular, Mardaliev noted the achievements in direct negotiations with Armenia, emphasizing the need to conclude a peace agreement.
“We have begun unprecedented restoration work in the liberated territories and at the same time strive to achieve a just and lasting peace with Armenia. Azerbaijan clearly states: it is time to turn de facto peace into de jure peace. We want to live in peace as two sovereign states within internationally recognized borders,” the ambassador emphasized.
At the end of his speech, Mardaliev called for unity and thanked the Ukrainian side for its partnership.
“Dear friends, I am sincerely grateful to each of you for being with us today, for supporting Azerbaijani-Ukrainian ties and deepening the friendship between our countries. Together we are stronger. Glory to Azerbaijan! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Azerbaijani-Ukrainian friendship!” he concluded.
On May 28, 1918, the independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was proclaimed in Tbilisi — the first secular republic in the Muslim East. The ADR existed until April 1920, when Bolshevik troops established control over its territory. In 1991, after the collapse of the USSR, Azerbaijan regained its independence. May 28 is celebrated annually as the main national holiday — Independence Day.
AZERBAIJAN, CAUCASUS, INTERNATIONAL_RELATIONS, SEYMOUR_MARDALIEV, UKRAINE
130 cases of bullying were recorded in Ukraine in the first four months of 2025, according to the National Police of Ukraine (NPU). On average, 32 reports of bullying are filed every month this year. This is 1.5 times more than in the same period last year. More than half of the reports involve young schoolchildren and teenagers aged 14 to 16. Only 48% of bullying cases have been resolved.
The police detected 130 administrative offenses for bullying (Article 173-4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) in the first four months of 2025. This is an average of 32 reports per month, which is 15% more than in the “pre-war” 2021.
The number of reports of bullying fell sharply after the start of the full-scale war in 2022, to 10 cases per month. However, the number of cases detected gradually increased: in 2024, the police were already filing 22 reports per month, and in 2025, almost 1.5 times more.
There has been a noticeable increase in bullying committed by teenagers. While in 2021 such cases accounted for 44% of the total, this year they already account for 58%.
This year, educational institutions are also being punished more often for failing to report cases of bullying. In 2025, there were already 11 such cases (9% of the total). By comparison, there were 14 such reports in 2024 (5%) and only 13 in 2021 (4%).
On the other hand, there has been a decrease in so-called “group” bullying or repeated bullying by teenagers. In 2025, there were only 5 such reports (4%), compared to 30 (11%) in 2024 and 35 (10%) in 2021.
Overall, out of 130 administrative reports filed this year, only 48% resulted in a court decision.
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/bulling-in-schools-2025
Celebrations were held in the capital of Ukraine on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the State of Israel. The event brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, Ukrainian authorities, the Jewish community, public organizations, artists and friends of Israel from different regions of Ukraine.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Ukraine Michael Brodsky delivered a welcoming speech.
“Thank you for joining us today to celebrate the 77th anniversary of Israel’s independence,” the Ambassador addressed the guests.
He emphasized the deep historical and mental connection between the Ukrainian and Israeli peoples:
“There are few countries in the world that understand each other better than Israel and Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, from the first day of Russian aggression, the people of Israel supported Ukraine. On October 7, when the horrific terrorist attack on Israel took place, the people of Ukraine unequivocally supported our country. We feel this support and highly appreciate it,” the diplomat emphasized.
The ambassador devoted a special place in his speech to the topic of freedom and the price paid by the peoples of both countries for their independence.
“Our peoples are acutely aware of the high price we have to pay for our independence. We pay for it with the blood of our children and our loved ones. Israelis and Ukrainians live in hope for a speedy end to the war and peaceful life,” Brodsky said.
The ambassador expressed confidence in a common future:
“I am confident that in spite of everything, we will cope with our problems. That despite wars and terror, our countries will remain free and independent,” he said.
The diplomat also mentioned the historical figure of Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, who was born in Kyiv:
“Recently, we have often recalled Golda Meir. Many of her quotes sound very modern today. I would like to remind you of one of her statements: “Pessimism is a luxury that Jews can never afford.” This fully applies to Ukrainians as well,” Michael Brodsky emphasized.
Israel’s Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar on the 5th of Iyar (May 13, 2025). It was on this day in 1948 that David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the independent State of Israel in Tel Aviv after the end of the British Mandate in Palestine. The very next day, the newly created state was attacked by neighboring Arab countries, which marked the beginning of the War of Independence. Since then, Israel has annually celebrated this date as a symbol of victory, survival, and national revival of the Jewish people.
On Tuesday, the Kyiv Academic Puppet Theater hosted a gala concert dedicated to the legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, entitled “Tango Freedom.” The event was timed to coincide with the 215th anniversary of the May Revolution in the Argentine Republic, an event that marked the beginning of the struggle for Argentina’s independence in 1810.
The celebration was organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Ukraine with the participation of representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, the diplomatic corps, artists, and the cultural community. The guests of honor at the event were First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva, as well as deputies, ministerial officials, and ambassadors of foreign states.
“Dear compatriots, welcome to the celebration of the 215th anniversary of the May Revolution of 1810, which marked the beginning of the path to our independence. Today, we honor that same spirit of freedom here in Ukraine, in a country that is defending its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its right to choose its own path with impressive courage and dignity,” said the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Argentine Republic to Ukraine, Ms. Elena Leticia Mikusinski, addressing the guests.
The ambassador also quoted a statement by the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs:
“Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, we have always stood by Ukraine. We have supported its legitimate right to defend its territory and sovereignty. We will continue to support Ukraine,” the statement said.
In his speech, Serhiy Kyslytsya drew historical parallels between the revolutionary movement in Argentina in the early 19th century and Ukraine’s current struggle for freedom.
“215 years ago, a powerful impulse was born in Buenos Aires – the May Revolution. In 1810, Argentinians chose freedom, dignity, and independence. Today, Ukraine is fighting for these very principles. That is why the slogan of this event is so close to our hearts: Tango de la libertad,” he emphasized.
The diplomat also recalled that Argentina was the first country in Latin America to recognize Ukraine’s independence in 1991, and even earlier, in 1921, recognized the Ukrainian People’s Republic.
“Today, Argentina stands with Ukraine once again in condemning Russian aggression and providing humanitarian aid, in taking a clear stance for the truth and freedom of Ukraine. This is not just diplomacy. This is true friendship. Amistad valiente. Amistad verdadera,” Kyslytsya emphasized.
The cultural program included the performance of the national anthems of Ukraine and Argentina by Yana Tatara, a buffet with traditional Argentine empanadas and Malbec wine, as well as performances by tango artists Oleg Syryka, Natalia Zavadskaya, Dmitry Kuyun, and Natalia Luzan.
The highlight of the evening was the “Tango Freedom” concert dedicated to Astor Piazzolla, a composer who radically changed the world’s perception of tango by combining it with elements of jazz and classical music in the nuevo tango style.
“Tonight we will witness the unity of wonderful Ukrainian musicians who will perform the works of our beloved Astor Piazzolla. May the same music always sound in this tango of two nations — the music of freedom,” said Ms. Mikusinski.
The May Revolution (Spanish: Revolución de Mayo) took place in Buenos Aires on May 18–25, 1810. As a result, the Spanish colonial administration was removed, and the national government — the First Junta — became the first step towards Argentina’s independence, which was declared on July 9, 1816.
Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992) was an outstanding Argentine composer and bandoneon player, founder of the nuevo tango style, which combined traditional tango with elements of jazz, classical music, and avant-garde. His work is known throughout the world and is considered one of the symbols of Argentina’s cultural identity.
ARGENTINA, Elena Leticia Mikusinski, Kyslytsia, May Revolution, UKRAINE, танго
