The United States has granted Serbia’s Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) an additional 30-day suspension of sanctions, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on social media.
“We did it! We secured another 30-day delay on sanctions for NIS. Thank you to everyone in Serbia who fought for this and to our American partners for their understanding. We have preserved stability and are putting Serbia back on the path to success,” Vučić stated.
Sanctions on NIS, imposed due to its Russian ownership, were initially set to take effect at 6 a.m. local time. Serbia had requested a three-month postponement but was initially granted only 30 days. The latest extension follows continued diplomatic efforts from Belgrade.
Serbia’s government had sent an official letter to Washington this week supporting NIS’s request for another delay.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, in a caretaker capacity, confirmed the extension after talks with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, Lou Bono. He described the development as a “significant victory for Serbia, its economy, and its citizens,” crediting coordinated diplomatic efforts led by the president’s office and a ministerial working group.
Despite the reprieve, Đurić warned that the situation remains complex, stressing Serbia’s commitment to acting responsibly in line with its economic and security interests.
