Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed today that the US has imposed “heavy and serious” sanctions on the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS), which are demanding the complete withdrawal of Russian interests from the company.
“We have to start the ownership transformation plan immediately and we have only 45 days for all operations, ending on February 25, and only the financial transaction can possibly be completed by March 12,” Vučić said at the Serbian Presidency.
He announced that Serbia would react responsibly and seriously, and that he would discuss this situation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as with officials from China and the US.
“Although we will rush, we will not rush into making the wrong decisions,” Vučić said.
Vučić believes that Serbia did not contribute in any way to the US sanctions against NIS being imposed. He added that Serbia has not interfered in any way in the conflicts of the major powers.
“Serbia is not the intention, or so they say, of the Americans to be a target, nor just NIS, but rather a comprehensive attack on Russia, which has not only oil production, but also all related companies, including NIS,” said Vučić.
He added that these are the most severe sanctions to hit a company in Serbia.
“We will wait to see what further interpretations there will be. They do not allow for the possibility of a 49 percent stake, but a complete exit of Russian interest from NIS,” concluded Vučić.
The US Treasury Department announced on its official website that numerous companies in Russia and beyond are under sanctions as of today.
Among those sanctioned is NIS AD Novi Sad, which has been owned by the Russian Gazprom since 2008. In addition to NIS, Gazprom’s subsidiaries in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg and Tajikistan have also been sanctioned.
All assets of these companies, as well as other Gazprom subsidiaries and partners in Russia, located in the United States have been seized, and the sanctions include a number of other consequences, which will be explained later.
The sanctions decisions are in line with the US policy of targeting the Russian economy following the illegal annexation of Crimea and the war against Ukraine, AA writes.
