President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić will host the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who is on an official visit to the Republic of Serbia.
Instead of Vučić, Zelenski was met at the airport by the Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, which is not in accordance with diplomatic protocol.
According to the usual diplomatic and state protocol practice, foreign heads of state are greeted by a host of the same rank when they arrive for an official visit. Until now, when receiving numerous high-ranking state delegations and foreign officials, Vučić almost always came to the airport and welcomed the guests.
However, after his arrival, Vučić hosted a dinner in honor of the President of Ukraine last night and hugged him on that occasion.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to host the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who is making his first official visit to Serbia, with the belief that this visit will contribute to the further development of relations between Serbia and Ukraine and cooperation in areas of mutual interest," said Vučić.
He welcomed Zelenski to Belgrade and stated that the dinner was an opportunity to open a conversation about the topics that will be the focus of the official meetings, especially the European path of the two countries, but also to introduce the spirit of Serbia to the guests, a part of the tradition we are proud of.
Zelensky: Important talks on expanding ties between the two countries
"I arrived in Serbia with my team. Today and tomorrow, important talks are scheduled - with President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Đur Matsut. We will discuss the expansion of economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, other areas that can benefit our peoples, as well as security issues. Ukraine is always ready to work constructively, for mutual benefit and on the basis of mutual respect," Zelensky wrote on IX.
As announced by the media cooperation service of the President of the Republic, a welcoming ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in front of the "Serbia" Palace, while a face-to-face meeting between President Vučić and President Zelenski is scheduled for 10:45 a.m.
A meeting of the delegations of the two countries led by the President of Serbia and the President of Ukraine is scheduled for 11:15.
At 12:00 p.m., a Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia and
State services of Ukraine for food safety and consumer protection on cooperation in the field of animal health and food safety, in the presence of President Vucic and President Zelensky.
It is interesting that the Russian media in Serbia paid very little attention to the first official visit of the President of Ukraine.
Namely, "Sputnik" has no news about Volodymyr Zelensky's visit at all on its website, while the "Russia Today" portal reported the agency's news about the visit and placed it in the lower part of the front page.
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