Djuric: Serbia changed its vote on the Ukrainian Resolution to abstention at the UN Secretariat

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric told NIN that Serbia’s Mission to the United Nations (UN) changed its vote in the UN General Assembly on the Ukrainian resolution, which reaffirms support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity while condemning Russia.

Initially, Serbia voted in favor of the resolution. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic later stated that a voting mistake had been made and apologized to the public.

In an interview for the latest print edition of NIN, Djuric emphasized that Serbia’s Mission to the UN changed its vote to abstention at the UN Secretariat, thereby closing the issue. When asked what happened at the UN during the vote on the Ukrainian resolution—co-sponsored by the EU and condemning Russia—he took responsibility for the situation.

"I am extremely open about this issue and, when necessary in the interest of the country, highly self-critical. Serbia adheres to the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty in the international arena. In the past, we have voted in favor of texts that were even more strongly worded, always in line with the conclusions of the National Security Council from February 2022. At that time, it was established that Serbia’s supreme principle in the UN is the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of recognized states," Djuric stated.

This approach, he added, was primarily due to the fact that Serbia enjoys the support of the majority of the international community regarding Kosovo, precisely because of its consistent adherence to such principles.

"Our duty is to monitor the current situation and adjust Serbia’s stance to emerging geopolitical changes. That is why I believe we should have voted abstention, and I take full responsibility for this. I will not shift the blame onto experts, institutions, or sectors—political responsibility does not lie with the president, but with me. If anyone needs to apologize, it is me. In the meantime, our Mission to the UN changed the vote to abstention at the UN Secretariat, and this issue is now closed. It was not difficult for me to accept responsibility for the mistake and apologize. As for those leading a campaign against me over this issue, as well as the motives behind it, I will not address them for now—because the public interest is more important than my personal image. I believe many understand what is actually going on," Djuric stated.

On February 24, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity. Two versions of the resolution were put to a vote—one proposed by the United States and another prepared by Ukraine and its European allies. Serbia abstained from voting on the first resolution but supported the second. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic later stated that Serbia had made a mistake by voting in favor of the resolution. Following this, Djuric also apologized for Serbia’s vote on the Ukrainian resolution in the UN.