Zelenskyy visits Moscow-aligned Serbia as Russian strikes kill child in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Belgrade on Saturday for his first official visit to Serbia, a European country that has maintained close ties with Moscow despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. The visit comes as Russia continues overnight strikes on Kyiv and surrounding regions, killing at least four people, including a three-year-old child.

Zelenskyy received a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace, where he held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. According to a statement on social media, Zelenskyy said the discussions would cover expanding economic ties, relations with the European Union, and security issues.

Serbia has historically been aligned with Russia and has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow, despite pressure from the EU. Vucic has also maintained contacts with Russian leaders, although he has provided non-military aid to Ukraine. He has denied claims that Serbian firms have sold munitions to Ukraine.

The visit is seen as a diplomatic effort by Ukraine to strengthen international support. An earlier statement by a senior Ukrainian official described the trip as a significant gesture.

The overnight attacks on Kyiv region: In Pukhivka, drone strikes destroyed a residential building and killed a grandfather, grandmother, and their three-year-old grandson, according to Zelenskyy. The child's parents and 15-year-old brother were hospitalised with injuries. A fourth person was killed in a ballistic missile strike on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy called for new sanctions against Russia to prevent the production of ballistic missiles used in such attacks.

The war, which began with Russia's large-scale invasion in 2022, has seen no diplomatic resolution. Both sides have increased long-range strikes, with civilian casualties mounting.