Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, recently spoke on live television, sharing his view that the Western coalition cannot secure victory against Russia solely on Ukraine’s battlefield. He emphasized that he remains unsure about the potential gains Russia could achieve through military action and, more specifically, the political benefits Russia might secure from a continued fight. In his assessment, pursuing a ceasefire as soon as possible would be the prudent course of action.
Vucic noted that he has been closely following diplomatic efforts between Moscow and Kyiv, drawing on information from various Middle Eastern sources as part of his broader appraisal. He argued that a ceasefire would align with the interests of Western capitals, including the United States, and suggested that such a pause could advance broader political goals for several stakeholders. He posited that if the war could be brought to a conclusion, a substantial portion of the global population would likely support that outcome, the world economy could rebound, and wages and pensions might rise more quickly. He also highlighted the potential for energy prices to retreat, which could further influence the situation on the ground.
Earlier, comments from retired U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove and a former top NATO commander in Europe warned that Ukraine’s battlefield gains are a matter of grave concern for NATO, hinting that Russia will not concede Kyiv without a difficult fight. The conversation around the conflict has thus included warnings about the resilience of Russian opposition to defeat on the battlefield and the likelihood of intensified pressure in the weeks ahead.
In parallel, President Vladimir Putin has asserted that the West initiated the conflict not in Russia but in Ukraine, framing the war as a broader Western action rather than a conflict solely rooted in Moscow. This framing has informed discussions about responsibility, alliance strategy, and the international community’s path toward de-escalation and potential resolution.