**Serbian President Claims Two Leaders Held Secret Talks with Putin**
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has made a surprising claim in an interview. He says that two big leaders had secret talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vucic didn’t name the leaders, but hinted that they might have been Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. Both men visited Russia in 2024, sparking speculation about their meetings with Putin.
Serbia has maintained good relations with Russia and hasn’t joined international sanctions against Moscow. This is not the first time Vucic has made a statement that raised eyebrows. Last February, he voted for a Ukrainian resolution at the U.N. General Assembly, which condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he later apologized saying he was probably tired and overwhelmed.
**Vucic to Meet Putin on May 9**
Vucic plans to meet with Putin on May 9, which is Russia’s Victory Day. This will be their first meeting since Vucic visited Sochi in November 2021. During that visit, Putin didn’t discuss Ukraine for long, saying only a few words about the situation.
**No Plans for Invasion**
Vucic said he doesn’t believe Putin plans to invade other European countries beyond Ukraine. He thinks Russia is trying to scare others into opposing Putin’s actions.
**Ukraine Corruption Case**
In other news, Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies have announced charges in a corruption case involving overpriced food purchases by the Defense Ministry between 2022 and 2023.
**Ukraine Prepares for EU Membership**
The European Union is launching a new program to support Ukraine’s preparation for EU membership. The program will provide €16.7 million ($18 million) to help Ukraine meet the necessary criteria.
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