The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, declared that the United States of America will impose direct sanctions on the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS), while he accused the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, of not wanting the participation of the Serbian List in the elections.

At the session of the Government of Serbia, Vučić said that the imposition of American sanctions will put official Belgrade in a difficult position.

“The problems with the refinery and our other giants follow, basically, with the survival of the economy,” Vučić said, adding that he would speak with US Ambassador Christopher Hill and that he had previously spoken with US Economic Growth Secretary Jose Fernandez.

Vučić announced that they will have 30 days to assess the situation, and that they must make the final decision by February 15.

He asked the Serbian government to form two teams, one for the gas deal and the other for NIS, and a new session was scheduled for Sunday.

Vučić warned that he will seek a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin around January 25.

Speaking about Kosovo, Vučić noted that Prime Minister Albin Kurti does not want the participation of the Serbian List in the February 9 parliamentary elections, “as it is a divisive factor for him”. He asked the head of the so-called Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, to “take additional measures.”

We recall that since 2008, NIS is owned by the majority of the Russian state company Gazprom Neft and its umbrella company Gazprom. The EU and US blacklisted Gazprom Neft in 2014, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.