Serbia’s Energy Minister, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, announced that the Serbian government received a clear and firm message from the United States regarding the future of NIS. For years, Serbia has maintained a strategic energy relationship with Russia through Gazprom’s controlling ownership in NIS — a partnership that Belgrade has repeatedly defended despite shifting global dynamics. Now, the consequences of that alignment have arrived.
According to the minister, the U.S. government rejected the attempt by NIS lawyers to resolve the issue through a simple change of management, insisting instead on a complete removal of Russian ownership from the company. Washington emphasized that no cosmetic adjustments would be accepted and that Gazprom, or any Russian state entity, cannot remain behind the scenes under altered titles.
Serbian officials now claim they were given “no time” for NIS to continue functioning under the current ownership structure, describing the situation as nearly unmanageable within 7–8 days. However, this crisis stems directly from Serbia’s long-term political choice to anchor a critical national asset to Russian state interests — a choice repeatedly warned against by Western partners.
Despite receiving approval to begin negotiations, Serbia did not obtain consent for NIS or the Refinery to continue operating unchanged. The government now faces a decisive moment: whether to take over the company and compensate damages or search for an alternative path. Minister Đedović Handanović acknowledged that President Vučić opposes nationalization, as do many within the Serbian government. An extraordinary government session will be held tomorrow, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
The minister described this moment as one of the most difficult in modern Serbian history, stating that a geopolitical confrontation is unfolding and that Serbia, as a “small country,” is forced to bear a heavy cost. Yet this situation is the direct result of Serbia’s long-maintained strategic reliance on Russia, despite clear global realignments and persistent warnings.
If Serbia now pays a high price, it is not due to sudden geopolitical shifts — but rather to its own continuous decision to keep critical energy infrastructure under Russian control.
