Aleksandar Vučić's Unyielding Journey to Red Square
Serbian President Vucic travels to Moscow on May 9, delivers a potent address.
Wave your doubts aside - it's a common expression, but perfectly fits our Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić. Despite health concerns and potential political storms, Vučić navigated his way to Moscow, recording a heartfelt video message from the iconic Red Square.
Vučić had made it clear since the beginning of 2025 that he would attend the 9th of May parade in Moscow, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War's victory.
As early as March 2025, the Serbian leader asserted his determination to visit the Russian capital despite pressure from the European Union, which hinted at potential "repercussions." [EU]
Vučić was adamant, emphasizing that he had given his word to Russian President Vladimir Putin and intended to keep it: "I said I would come, and I will, even if they chain me."
The visit, he explained, wasn't a snub to his country's European integration but a matter of respecting historical memory, a principle he held dear.
In early May, Vučić's plans looked uncertain due to health issues. On May 3, Serbian media reported that he had abruptly ended his visit to the U.S. due to a sudden spike in blood pressure, and was hospitalized. [Health]
Yet, the narrative of political maneuvering began to swirl. Ukrainian and Western media speculated that Vučić was merely finding excuses to miss the Moscow trip, while Russians echoed some of these sentiments but with a hint of understanding: "Aleksandar Vučić does indeed sympathize with us, but he's still knee-deep in 'collective Europe.'"
However, Vučić proved the skeptics wrong by confirming his decision to go to Moscow. Reports indicated that he was recovering at home and would soon return to work by May 5. And by May 7, Serbian media announced his arrival in Moscow.
Vučić faced significant challenges during his journey, primarily related to airspace restrictions. Lithuania and Latvia refused his plane permission to cross their territories. [Restrictions] Later, his aircraft made an emergency landing in Baku, Azerbaijan, due to heightened security threats. Yet, Vučić pressed on and eventually reached Moscow, expressing his pride in his nation's victory over fascism.
Some reports suggested that the emergency landing was due to a lack of permission to land in Moscow amid the airport closures, while others claimed it was necessary for refueling. [Landing] Russian state media later clarified that the stopover in Baku was "planned." [Landing] The reasons behind the airspace restrictions and the emergency landing remained a topic of debate, with some attributing it to Western efforts to block Vučić's visit [Enrichment 1] and others pointing towards the immediate threat posed by the drone attacks and the resulting airport closures in Russia. [Enrichment 2]
- Despite potential political storms and health concerns, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed his attendance at the 9th of May parade in Moscow, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War's victory, a decision he reiterated even amidst pressure from the European Union.
- In the wake of Vučić's confirmed attendance, speculation about the motives behind the Serbian leader's visit to Moscow persisted, with some Ukrainian and Western media suggesting he was finding excuses to miss the trip, while Russian media countered with a hint of understanding, acknowledging Vučić's sympathies but also highlighting his commitment to maintaining ties with the European Union.
- As Vučić's plans for the trip seemed uncertain due to health issues, he faced additional challenges when his aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Baku, Azerbaijan, due to heightened security threats, complicating his journey to Moscow.
- Controversy surrounding the reasons for the emergency landing continued, with some attributing it to Western efforts to block Vučić's visit, while others pointed towards the immediate threat posed by drone attacks and the resulting airport closures in Russia, demonstrating the complexities of war-and-conflicts and politics in general-news.
