Kathmandu— Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to deepen economic cooperation and finalize a long-stalled free trade agreement by the end of the year during a two-day visit to Belgrade. The meeting, which concluded Saturday, marked Zelenskyy's first visit to Serbia since taking office in 2019 and focused on strengthening ties through infrastructure, energy, and food security initiatives.

Pushing for a Long-Delayed Trade Deal

The proposed free trade agreement has been under discussion for more than two decades, with both nations now aiming to reach a conclusion by the end of the year. The deal is a critical component for Serbia's bid to join the World Trade Organization and serves as a prerequisite for its eventual European Union membership.

Ukraine has previously blocked the agreement since 2005 due to concerns regarding quotas and tariffs that affect its agricultural sector. However, both leaders pointed to recent progress on the deal as a sign of strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

Support for Reconstruction and Energy Resilience

As Ukraine faces ongoing infrastructure challenges, Serbia has committed to helping rebuild Ukrainian cities damaged by the Russian invasion. President Zelenskyy noted that Russian strikes have left virtually no thermal power plants intact and have damaged hospitals, universities, and railway stations.

To assist with these challenges, Serbia has pledged 2 million euros ($2.3 million) to support Ukraine's energy sector. Zelenskyy also thanked Serbia for preparing a new humanitarian aid package specifically focused on the medical and energy sectors to help build resilience against winter pressures.

Navigating Complex Geopolitical Ties

The meeting highlighted the delicate diplomatic balancing act performed by Belgrade. While Vucic expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and its bid to join the European Union, Serbia has refused to impose sanctions on Russia, its longtime ally, and remains dependent on Russia for most of its gas.

Despite these tensions, the two leaders discussed logistics projects such as the Danube Corridor to improve links between Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and the EU. While military cooperation was not discussed during the visit, Serbia has moved to reduce some military dependence on Russia by agreeing to replace Soviet-era MiG-29 jets with French Rafale aircraft.

The two countries also signed a memorandum regarding animal health and food safety to further formalize their bilateral cooperation.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.