Đurić: Serbia stands for peace, the UN Charter and solidarity

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Marko Đurić, participated today in the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Rome, which brought together representatives of numerous countries, international organizations, and the private sector, with a focus on coordinating efforts to rebuild Ukraine following the destruction caused by war.

Minister Đurić emphasized that Serbia consistently supports peace, international public law, and the United Nations Charter. In that context, he recalled the assistance Ukraine provided to Serbia following the 1999 bombing:

“Serbia has always stood on the side of peace, and we will always be present wherever support is being discussed for civilians affected by conflict. It is particularly important for us to remember that Ukraine extended a helping hand to Serbia after the bombing and aggression against our country in 1999, by assisting in the restoration of our energy network.”

Referring to the meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the conference in Kuala Lumpur, Minister Đurić stated that any effort that could contribute to reducing global tensions and bringing an end to the tragic conflict in Ukraine deserves support.

He also noted the large number of refugees and migrants from Ukraine who have arrived in Serbia since the onset of the conflict, as well as an even greater number from the Russian Federation, underlining that Serbia, guided by its values and tradition, has opened both its doors and its heart to all those in need.

Regarding Serbia's potential participation in concrete recovery projects in Ukraine, Đurić indicated that discussions are currently underway concerning possible support in two specific areas. He also recalled President Vučić’s principled policy based on peace and solidarity, and referenced Serbia’s participation in the summit in Odesa as a continuation of its engagement.

The Minister further highlighted the potential of the Serbian economy to contribute to post-war recovery efforts once hostilities cease. He expressed confidence that future involvement would be made possible precisely through Serbia’s participation in gatherings such as this one.

He underlined the importance of Serbia’s presence at international events of this kind, noting that he made a personal effort to ensure Serbia’s role was visible. He had the opportunity to meet with numerous high-level officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and U.S. Special Envoy for the Resolution of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Keith Kellogg. He added that he conveyed to the American official the Serbian people's appreciation for President Trump’s efforts to stabilize international relations, noting that Kellogg promised to personally pass this message along.

“I conveyed Serbia’s readiness, alongside our commitment to peace, to serve as a host for any public, private, informal, or other types of discussions that may contribute to resolving the conflict—or rather, the war—taking place in Ukraine,” Đurić concluded, emphasizing that Serbia’s participation at this gathering was visible, dignified, and aligned with the values our country upholds: peace, respect for international law, and support for those most in need.