Serbia and Ukraine have maintained a more functional relationship since Russia’s full-scale invasion than Serbia’s domestic media environment might suggest. Yet Serbia’s foreign policy abroad and its political communication at home tell different stories. Zelensky’s visit creates a domestic communications challenge for Serbia’s president, particularly with his pro-Russian electoral base. Closer ties with Ukraine, and Zelensky’s visit to Belgrade, do not necessarily signal a shift in Serbia’s policy toward Russia, nor do they imply the introduction of sanctions. This is not necessarily a contradiction, but rather the essence of Vucic’s foreign policy: cultivating relationships with competing powers while avoiding commitments that would foreclose other options.