Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced an “open, honest, and difficult conversation” with Jose Fernandes, the Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment. Vučić shared on Instagram that the discussion focused on key issues related to bilateral cooperation between Serbia and the U.S., particularly in the energy sector.
One of the main topics, according to Vučić, was the potential for sanctions. While he didn’t provide full details, Vučić promised to reveal more information in the coming days, acknowledging that the news would likely not be favorable for Serbian citizens. Despite this, Vučić reassured the public that Serbia’s stability and energy security would be maintained.
Late last year, Vučić indicated that U.S. sanctions were expected to target NIS, Serbia’s largest oil company, which is majority-owned by Russia.
In an interview with Belgrade’s Blic newspaper, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill commented on the issue. He refrained from speculating about sanctions but emphasized the U.S. concern over the Russian ownership of NIS. Hill explained that the primary goal was not to harm Serbia but to prevent Russia from using Serbian financial resources to fund its war in Ukraine.
Hill acknowledged that Serbia’s independent foreign policy could be seen as “confusing” by some, but expressed satisfaction with Serbia’s growing relationship with Ukraine, particularly its humanitarian assistance to the country. Hill assured that the U.S. was carefully considering the situation to avoid disrupting Serbia’s economy.
