The United States has imposed sanctions on Serbia’s oil industry due to Russian ownership by Gazprom, President Aleksandar Vu?i? confirmed on Friday. The sanctions will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Vu?i?, speaking to the media, acknowledged that the U.S. had officially informed him of the decision, though he has yet to review the official documents. “We need to talk to the Americans first, get the letter. We have some kind of official confirmation, but we need to see the documents,” Vu?i? said.
He also hinted that Serbia would seek to maintain open channels with both the United States and Russia. “After we read the documents, we will talk to the Americans first, then we will speak to the Russians,” the Serbian president added.
While the United States and European Union have called for sanctions on Russia, Vu?i? made it clear that he is not ready to impose sanctions on Moscow at this stage. “I am not ready to discuss possible sanctions against Moscow,” he said, noting his intention to preserve Serbia’s historic ties with Russia while also managing relations with Washington.
Vu?i? also expressed his expectation that the United Kingdom would follow the U.S. lead and impose similar sanctions on Serbia’s oil sector.
This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing geopolitical tension surrounding Serbia’s alignment with Russia amidst Western pressure.