Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he was pessimistic that an agreement would be reached before Friday’s deadline regarding Hungarian oil company MOL group's bid to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), the operator of Serbia’s only oil refinery.
Russia’s Gazprom Neft and Gazprom agreed in January to sell their combined 56% controlling stake in NIS to MOL after the United States demanded the divestment of Russian-owned shares under sanctions linked to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Washington has given the Russian firms and MOL until 22 May to finalise the transaction, which also requires approval from the Serbian government because the state owns a 29.9% stake in NIS.
Speaking to Serbia’s RTS television late on Thursday (21 May), Vučić said he did not expect the Russian companies and MOL to reach a final agreement before the deadline.
“We have held countless meetings with representatives of MOL. I hope we will achieve a successful outcome, but I am not optimistic,” he said.
Despite his doubts, Vučić suggested the United States was likely to grant additional time for the parties to complete negotiations.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on NIS in October due to the company’s Russian ownership as part of broader measures targeting Russia’s energy sector. However, NIS has since obtained several waivers from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum nears an end, Azerbaijan's Pavilion will showcase reconstruction efforts in its liberated territor...
The Great Pyramid of Giza has survived for more than 4,600 years, outlasting empires, invasions and natural disasters. Now, researchers believe the...
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he was pessimistic that an agreement would be reached before Friday&r...
A Turkish court has effectively removed the main opposition leader, Özgür Özel, in a ruling that has deepened political tensions and...
Standing amidst the shattered concrete, twisted reinforcing bars...
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum nears an end, Azerbaijan's Pavilion will showcase reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories and foreground the importance of mine removal in resettlement efforts.
The Great Pyramid of Giza has survived for more than 4,600 years, outlasting empires, invasions and natural disasters. Now, researchers believe they have identified one of the key reasons why the ancient structure has endured for so long.
A Turkish court has effectively removed the main opposition leader, Özgür Özel, in a ruling that has deepened political tensions and rattled financial markets.
SpaceX stopped the launch of its 12th Starship rocket from Texas on Thursday and said it will attempt the high-stakes test flight again on Friday, as Elon Musk's space company nears a record-breaking public listing.
Asian stocks surged on Thursday as some vessels resumed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while forecast-beating results at Nvidia and a suspended workers' strike at Samsung Electronics lifted shares of chipmakers.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus will not be dragged into the war in Ukraine, while also stressing that Minsk and Moscow would jointly respond to any aggression against them.
The penultimate day of the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku will see Azerbaijan's Pavilion highlight post-construction efforts in Garabagh and East Zangezur, as well as host events on the future of Baku and architectural education.
NATO fighter jets were activated on Thursday (21 May) after at least one drone entered Latvian airspace, according to Latvia’s armed forces, marking the latest in a series of security incidents across the Baltic region linked to the war in Ukraine.
A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio–Paris crash, marking a major development in a case that has stretched on for 17 years.
U.S. President Donald Trump surprised NATO allies by announcing plans to deploy an additional 5,000 American troops to Poland, just hours before Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to meet alliance ministers in Sweden on Friday against the backdrop of growing divisions over the Iran war.
SpaceX stopped the launch of its 12th Starship rocket from Texas on Thursday and said it will attempt the high-stakes test flight again on Friday, as Elon Musk's space company nears a record-breaking public listing.
The U.S. has arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of the head of GAESA, a military-run business group which owns Cuba’s most profitable enterprises, including the island’s five-star hotels, and its largest port.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 22nd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The Great Pyramid of Giza has survived for more than 4,600 years, outlasting empires, invasions and natural disasters. Now, researchers believe they have identified one of the key reasons why the ancient structure has endured for so long.
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