Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that he expects to receive concrete information by the end of this week or early next week regarding the situation of the oil company NIS, which has come under US sanctions due to its Russian ownership structure.
Vučić said that Serbia is currently holding talks with Russian, American, and European partners to find a solution that would safeguard national interests amid growing international energy tensions.
He also confirmed that he had a difficult round of discussions with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose delegation is visiting Belgrade. One of the key topics, he said, was the status of NIS, describing it as the greatest economic risk currently facing Serbia. Resolving this issue, he emphasized, is vital for maintaining the country’s financial and macroeconomic stability.
The president highlighted the importance of the IMF’s upcoming decisions, noting that Serbia’s new arrangement with the Fund should be finalized later this week, with formal approval by the IMF Board in Washington expected on 19 December. He underlined that these steps are essential for preserving Serbia’s credit rating and investor confidence.
While acknowledging that there are two other economic risks facing the country, Vučić did not specify their nature but assured that the Government has the capacity to manage them effectively. The NIS issue, however, remains Serbia’s most pressing challenge as it seeks to balance international sanctions compliance, domestic energy security, and financial stability in coordination with global partners.