Vučić: Better to spend thousand days in negotiations than one day at war

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has stated that leaders should act in their countries’ national interests and argued that, in the case of the war in Ukraine, negotiations should have been prioritised over military confrontation, noting, “It's always better to have thousands of days of negotiations than one day of war.”

Although Serbia continues to pursue EU membership, it has also maintained relations with Russia and China, a policy that has drawn increased attention amid the war in Ukraine and broader geopolitical tensions, Caliber.Az reports.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, asked whether Serbia would eventually have to choose between East and West, Vučić dismissed the notion that countries must align exclusively with one geopolitical bloc.

He pointed to both his own visit to China and Trump’s engagement with Beijing as examples of pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests.

“President Trump didn't go there because of his vanity,” Vučić said of Trump's visit to China. “He brought with him all the leading people of the United States of America for making better businesses, for earning more money for their companies.”

Vučić said he pursued a similar strategy during his own trip, arguing that leaders should focus on securing economic opportunities for their citizens rather than ideological positioning.

“I'm coming from a small country. I was asking for more investments and was fighting for the interests of my people,” he said.

The Serbian leader added that the same practical approach should be applied to resolving conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“It's always better to have thousands of days of negotiations than one day of war,” he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has said that ties between Serbia and the United States have improved significantly under President Donald Trump, marking a notable shift in public attitudes in a country where memories of NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign remain strong.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov