The geopolitics in Eastern Europe remain as volatile as ever. Now this time it is Serbia and its leader Vučić who has been labelled as Putin’s Balkan mini-me for years. Vucic is now playing the same diplomatic game as Belarus’s Lukashenko but with a European twist. He’s mastered the art of having it both ways: refusing sanctions on Russia while sweet-talking the EU about membership, all while dramatically warning Brussels to “prepare for war with Russia.”
Then came the “accidental” UN vote labeling Russia an aggressor state. In geopolitics, there are no accidents—only calculated messages. Serbia’s sudden “slip-up” has EU diplomats smirking while Vučić frantically apologizes to Moscow. But is this really just clumsy diplomacy, or is Belgrade sending a subtle signal that its loyalties might be shifting?
Vucic Hits Russia in UN
“We made a mistake due to fatigue and being overwhelmed,” Vučić claimed, taking personal responsibility for what was supposedly meant to be an abstention. Please. This is the same guy who’s navigated the East-West tightrope for years without missing a step. Suddenly he’s too tired to check which button his delegation is pushing? Give me a break.
The resolution itself was no small deal. It flat-out demands Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine—totally contradicting Serbia’s carefully crafted fence-sitting policy. Even the United States abstained after EU amendments named Russia as the aggressor—making Serbia’s “accidental” yes vote all the more suspicious.
The timing couldn’t be more telling. With massive protests threatening his grip on power, Vučić is in serious trouble. What began with student outrage over 15 deaths from a collapsed canopy has blown up into a nationwide anti-corruption movement across 200 cities. The “bloody hand” symbol now unites students, professors, farmers, transport workers, and even judges.
The Violence Which Putin is Ignoring
Most damning? Seventeen high court judges in Belgrade publicly backing protesters—something completely unheard of. Judges from other cities are following their lead, basically telling Vučić his days of controlling the courts are numbered.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister just quit, throwing the government into full crisis mode. Vučić’s response? The classic dictator playbook: blame “foreign spies” while threatening force against protesters. His grip is clearly slipping—fast.
With EU pressure mounting and protests in the streets, Vučić might be testing how far he can stretch his Russian friendship without breaking it. His desperate-sounding apology to Moscow seems way too panicked—almost like he’s trying to have it both ways: signaling to the West while begging Putin not to abandon him.
For years, Serbia has walked this tightrope, staying friendly with Russia while refusing sanctions. Vučić has always justified this by bringing up Serbia’s own history with sanctions. But with Putin laser-focused on Ukraine, his ability to prop up allies like Serbia has taken a serious hit.
This “error” might actually be Serbia hinting that a shift is coming if Russia doesn’t step up to support Vučić in his hour of need. The West is quietly celebrating while Moscow must be wondering: was this truly a mistake, or is Serbia getting ready to jump ship as Vučić fights for his political life?
Sometimes, the most powerful messages are the ones disguised as accidents. As Vučić scrambles to hold onto power, don’t be surprised if more convenient “mistakes” pop up that just happen to align with whoever might keep him from drowning in this political storm.