Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic publicly apologised to the citizens of Serbia on February 24 after the country voted in favour of a UN resolution supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and calling for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Speaking on Happy TV, a rather unhappy Vucic said that the vote was a "mistake" and expressed regret for the decision.

The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on February 24, marking the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While 93 countries supported the resolution, 18 opposed it and 65 abstained. Notably, both Russia and the United States voted against the resolution, which was backed by European countries and proposed by Ukraine.

Serbia’s vote, however, placed it in the camp of Ukraine’s European supporters, a departure from the country’s usual stance of neutrality on the issue, but in keeping with its previous support for UN resolutions on Ukraine. Vucic said that Serbia should have abstained from voting on the European-backed resolution this time, as it did on the US-led version, the latter of which called for a “swift end” to the war, without labelling the Kremlin the aggressor.

"I think Serbia made a mistake today. I apologise to the citizens for that, and I bear the blame for it myself," Vucic admitted, citing personal fatigue and the burden of governing as factors that led to the misstep. Vucic has indeed been busy, consumed by months of student protests and the impending imposition of US sanctions on Serbia's oil industry, NIS.

Nevertheless, the Serbian president said that the country's foreign policy should have remained consistent, avoiding direct involvement in the fast-evolving international debate over Ukraine. "Serbia had the right to abstain in the vote for the US draft resolution," he said, suggesting that he was aware of the political risks of distancing the country from Moscow, Serbia’s long-standing ally.

Serbia has long maintained close ties with Russia, historially and culturally, while also seeking to improve relations with the European Union and other global players. This balancing act has become increasingly difficult since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the international community pressuring Serbia to align more closely with the West and abandon its longstanding support for Moscow.

The Serbian leadership has faced growing scrutiny over its refusal to impose sanctions on Russia despite EU demands. The country has instead opted for a neutral stance, hoping to maintain its relationship with both Moscow and Brussels. Serbia's position was further complicated by Russian ownership of its oil industry, NIS, which is now facing secondary sanctions threat.

Russia has since reacted to Serbia's blunder, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressing acceptance of Vucic's apology. "Of course, we heard it — of course, we accepted it. Indeed, technical errors do happen," Peskov said, appreciating the president’s swift and public response to the situation.

Despite this diplomatic reassurance, the vote drew criticism of the government at home. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, a prominent Russophile, voiced strong opposition to the vote, calling it "a disgrace." He expressed disbelief that such a decision could be considered a mistake, instead accusing Serbia’s representatives at the UN of betraying Serbia’s historical position.

"No Serb would ever think twice about voting against Russia, our only historically unchanged ally," Vulin declared, demanding accountability from Serbia's foreign minister. His comments reflect the emergence of a rift within Serbia’s political establishment over Serbia’s policy toward Russia.

Serbia’s foreign policy has been a subject of contention for years, with the country trying to balance its relationships between the European Union, the United States, Russia, China, and other influential global players. While Serbia has sought European integration, EU membership remains distant, and the country has worked to maintain friendly ties with Russia, particularly over issues related to energy and the independence of Kosovo. 

Since 2009, Serbia’s leadership has navigated a multi-vector foreign policy, refusing to favour any single power. Serbia’s geopolitical strategy has kept the country in good standing with both Western and Eastern powers, securing foreign investment from Europe and China.

The vote on Ukraine is a reminder of the delicate line Serbia must walk on the international stage. As the US and Russia push for a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine, Serbia’s skill in navigating its interests alongside those of its allies could shape the direction of its foreign policy and influence its position on the global stage in the new world order.