At the fifth „Southeast Europe - Ukraine“ summit in Kyiv, leaders from across the region gathered and signed a joint declaration of support for Ukraine. Everyone except one. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić came, sat at the table - and did not put down his signature.

The declaration was signed by Ukraine, Albania, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria. The list is almost our entire neighborhood. The only blank on the document carries a Serbian name.

What exactly did those who signed commit to? Condemnation of Russian military aggression, a demand for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, support for Ukraine's sovereignty within internationally recognized borders, strengthening of air defense, keeping sanctions against Russia in place, support for Ukraine's future NATO membership, and the formation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression.

It is that last point - the tribunal for war crimes - that is seen as the main reason for Serbia's abstention. Belgrade has for years played both sides: it wants into the EU, but does not want to anger Moscow. This summit showed that more clearly than any statement - when the moment came to sign, Serbia stood alone.

And here is the part that concerns us directly. Macedonia signed. Our name stands on the same document as Greece, Romania and Bulgaria, and not next to Serbia. That is no small thing - it is a geopolitical choice that gets remembered. In a region where everyone watches who sits down with whom, Skopje said plainly which side it stands on.

The question that remains is whether such a choice carries a cost or a reward. Serbia defends its „neutrality“ as a virtue, but the very loneliness at that summit says otherwise. The next summit is scheduled for Slovenia in 2027. Until then, it's worth watching who stays at the table, and who starts counting the cost of having sat to the side.