Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has reportedly proposed to a visiting Russian delegation that Serbia could temporarily assume part of Russia’s ownership stake in the oil company NIS. According to local media, the idea is that once international conditions stabilize, the shares would be returned to Russian control.
However, unofficial sources suggest that Moscow is not particularly supportive of this proposal. As an alternative, Russia is reportedly considering selling its stake to a third party, with speculation that American investors could emerge as potential buyers. The suggestion was allegedly discussed during President Vučić’s recent meeting with Gazprom Neft board chairman Alexander Dyukov and Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin.
NIS’s parent company has been placed on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list, which prohibits U.S. entities and individuals from conducting transactions with it or its subsidiaries. According to the annual financial reports of NIS-owned domestic companies, the sanctions are expected to cause significant operational disruptions, restrict financial flows, and undermine the company’s ability to meet its obligations to creditors.
The filings also warn that these restrictions raise serious concerns about NIS’s capacity to continue operating as a going concern. The sanctions, which came into force last week, explicitly apply to all subsidiaries, potentially affecting their partnerships, business performance, and overall financial stability.
