Serbia’s President Vucic cuts short US visit and returns home after falling ill

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has decided to cut short his trip to the US on May 3, 2025 where he was scheduled to meet his US counterpart, and return to Serbia “following discomfort,” according to several media outlets accompanying him on his trip. (AFP)
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Updated 03 May 2025
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Serbia’s President Vucic cuts short US visit and returns home after falling ill

  • Vucic suddenly fell ill during a meeting in the US
  • He was admitted to the Belgrade Military Hospital upon arrival

BELGRADE: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has cut short a visit to the United States and returned to Serbia over an unspecified health emergency, state RTS television reported on Saturday.
Vucic suddenly fell ill during a meeting in the US and decided to return home after consulting doctors, the report said. He was admitted to the Belgrade Military Hospital upon arrival, it added.
Vucic was previously in Miami, Florida, where he had met with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Vucic had said he also was hoping to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Richard Grenell, US presidential envoy for special missions, expressed hope that Vucic would recover. “Sorry to miss you but hope all is ok,” Grenell wrote on X.
It was not immediately clear what happened and Vucic’s office said they will inform the public later. Vucic, 55, is known to have high blood pressure.
Serbia’s populist leader also has said he would travel to Russia later this month to attend a Victory Day parade in Moscow, despite warnings from European Union officials that this could affect Serbia’s bid to join the bloc.


Putin calls for immediate halt to Iran conflict 

Updated 58 min 44 sec ago
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Putin calls for immediate halt to Iran conflict 

  • Vladimir Putin ‌in constant contact with the ⁠leaders ⁠of Gulf Cooperation Council member states

MOSCOW: Russian ‌President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran’s president over the numerous civilian casualties resulting from “the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran” and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said.
In a phone call late on Friday with Iranian President ‌Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin ‌expressed his deep condolences ‌over ⁠the killing of Iranian ⁠Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of Khamenei’s family, Iranian political and military leaders and “numerous civilians.”
“Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s principled stance in favor of an ⁠immediate cessation of hostilities, ‌the rejection of ‌force as a method to solve ‌any issues surrounding Iran or arising ‌in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution,” the Kremlin said.
Putin ‌said he was in constant contact with the ⁠leaders ⁠of Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
“Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia’s solidarity with the Iranian people as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country. He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict,” the Kremlin said.