The key facts

  • Ukraine's Ambassador to Serbia hopes for a 'more pro-Ukrainian position' from the new government and the imposition of sanctions against Russia
  • Student List founder Radomir Sajčić and representative Jovo Bakić stated that the movement does not intend to impose anti-Russian sanctions
  • Aleksandar Vučić suggested sanctions could be introduced by March or April

Kyiv's expectations after the elections in Serbia

Ukraine expects that Serbia's new government will take a 'more pro-Ukrainian position' and impose sanctions against Russia. This was stated in an interview with the outlet Apostrophe by Ukraine's Ambassador to Serbia Oleksandr Lytvynenko. According to him, Kyiv hopes that Serbia will take a 'more European, pro-Western, pro-American' position, and also wants 'more trade, more cooperation, free integration, humanitarian development.' 'We would be very glad if they announce sanctions against Russia. Everyone knows our agenda. We need to negotiate and achieve what is possible,' the ambassador noted.

Mixed signals from the election winners

The position of the election winners themselves looks different. Parliamentary elections were held in Serbia on October 28, in which the Student List movement won. One of the movement's founders, Radomir Sajčić, emphasized that the Student List does not intend to impose anti-Russian sanctions. A similar statement was made by the party's representative Jovo Bakić: according to him, the new Serbian government does not plan to impose sanctions against Russia.

Vučić's forecast

Against this backdrop, former President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić expressed a different expectation: he stated that the Student List may impose sanctions against Russia by March or April. Thus, at this point three different assessments have been publicly recorded: Kyiv's hope for sanctions, the movement's own denial of such plans, and Vučić's forecast of their possible introduction in the coming months. How the policy of Serbia's new government will be shaped after the cabinet is formed, the sources do not specify.