Washington is reportedly unwilling to compromise regarding sanctions on the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS) and expects the Serbian government to present a concrete proposal to eliminate Russian control and ownership in the company, according to unofficial sources from the U.S. administration.
The U.S. stance is that there are essentially two acceptable solutions:
- Sale of the Russian stake to an entity unrelated to Russia.
- Nationalization of the portion of NIS owned by Gazprom and Gazpromneft.
So far, Russia has not responded positively to proposals to sell its stake. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has referred to nationalization as a “last resort,” but the U.S. source noted that “sometimes the last option is the best option.”
The key U.S. demand is complete removal of Russian control and influence, not merely a reduction of Gazprom’s ownership share. Washington expects a clear plan and timeline from Belgrade to achieve this.
Any creative solutions must ensure that Russia no longer profits in Serbia in ways that could fund the war in Ukraine. U.S. officials emphasize that the sanctions target Russia, not Serbia or its citizens, as part of a broader strategy to pressure Moscow to end the war.
With NIS sanctions now implemented after multiple delays, Serbia cannot expect concessions regarding gas or oil. The process to lift sanctions could take months, once conditions are met, and the decision rests on the Serbian government, as Russian authorities have shown no willingness to cooperate.
As an example, the source noted that Lukoil announced plans to sell assets abroad, demonstrating that selling Russian energy stakes is possible, but Moscow was unwilling to allow it in Serbia’s case.
