Why Serbia's president has stepped up his criticism of EU and how Trump can save him

The rhetoric of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has changed sharply in recent weeks.

It has become more aggressive and, above all, anti-EU. Moreover, this rhetoric has instantly become fashionable among government officials, politicians, experts and journalists who support Vučić’s regime.

This shift occurred because Vučić has overplayed his hand in maneuvering between the EU and Russia.

Read more to understand why the Serbian president has found himself in such a difficult situation in the article by Western Balkans expert Volodymyr Tsybulnyk: Three problems of Serbia's president: why Aleksandar Vučić could lose power as early as 2026.

Because President Aleksandar Vučić has gone too far in balancing between the EU and Russia, he has acquired three new "wars" that could ultimately lead to a loss of power.

The first problem: the European Union has begun to punish Serbia.

Brussels has grown tired of Belgrade’s attempts to sit on two chairs at once and has moved to force Vučić to finally choose the country’s future path.

The EU started by noting the lack of significant progress in Serbia’s annual assessment of EU integration efforts. In addition, it placed Serbia behind Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia in the accession race.

The second problem: worsening relations with Russia.

In early 2025, reports became widespread about Serbia supplying ammunition to Ukraine, and meetings between the presidents and first ladies of Serbia and Ukraine began to take place.

Last October, Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would abandon long-term gas supply contracts with Serbia, with supplies set to end entirely in 2026.

According to the Serbian president, this was a "stab in the back." It was precisely thanks to the long-term contract, which included a substantial discount, that Vučić secured voter support and remained in power.

But there is also a third problem – and perhaps the most important one for Vučić.

This concerns snap parliamentary elections scheduled for late 2026. The Serbian president was forced to announce them by students who have been protesting for nearly a year and a half following the deadly railway station disaster in the city of Novi Sad.

The situation for Vučić is extremely difficult: his party is losing public support (albeit slowly), and for the first time in years there is a real risk of losing its majority in the National Assembly.

If presidential elections are held at the same time as parliamentary ones, as Vučić promised back in October last year, he could lose all power.

Still, Vučić is not giving up easily. Especially since he hopes to receive support from US President Donald Trump.