Zelensky welcomes Student List victory in Serbia's snap elections
President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the opposition Student List's victory in Serbia's snap parliamentary elections and said Ukraine was ready to deepen bilateral cooperation. Preliminary projections put the Student List on nearly 53% of the vote and 135–140 seats in the 250-seat parliament, while Alexander Vučić conceded defeat.
Key points
- Serbia's snap parliamentary elections were held on 25 October 2026.
- The Student List was projected to receive 52.9% of the vote and 135–140 of 250 parliamentary seats.
- Vučić's United Serbia was projected to receive 38.8% of the vote and 105 seats.
- Alexander Vučić conceded defeat on the evening of 25 October.
- The election followed nearly two years of student-led protests against corruption and authoritarian trends.
- Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to expand cooperation with Serbia.
- The Student List was formed by protest participants and included scientists, doctors, artists and civic activists.
Why it matters
The result marked a major political shift in Serbia and a defeat for Alexander Vučić's party. Ukraine publicly welcomed the change and signaled its intention to deepen cooperation with Serbia. The vote also followed nearly two years of student-led protests over corruption and authoritarian tendencies.
What happened
Serbia's snap parliamentary elections were held on 25 October after nearly two years of student demonstrations. Preliminary projections credited the opposition Student List with 52.9% of the vote and 135–140 seats in the 250-member parliament, compared with 38.8% and 105 seats for Vučić's United Serbia. Vučić conceded defeat that evening. Zelensky said the Student List's victory opened a new chapter in Serbia's history, thanked Serbia for respecting Ukraine's people, state and independence, and expressed readiness to expand cooperation.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focused on Zelensky's welcome for Serbia's electoral change, his appreciation for Serbia's respect toward Ukraine and his readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation. It also placed his reaction alongside his comments on Brazil's election and highlighted the student-led origins of the winning Serbian list.
How international sources describe it
The supplied coverage came entirely from Ukrainian media and agencies, so it did not provide a distinct international-source perspective. The European Union was cited only through its statement that Serbia had entered a new stage following the Student List's victory.
Background
The protests that led to the snap election followed the 2024 collapse of a railway-station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. The Student List emerged from discussions among protest participants and included scientists, doctors, artists and civic activists. Earlier, Vučić announced his resignation in late September so he could compete in the elections for the prime minister's office. Serbia's previous parliamentary election had been held on 17 December 2023.