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).
Türkiye said on Thursday it would continue helping Syria strengthen its military, despite rising tensions with Israel over Ankara’s role...
Google has committed $500,000 to a new digital safety programme in Pakistan, as debate grows over how to protect children from online risks and whe...
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russia...
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russian diplomat said, but any proposals should reflect the "realities on the ground".
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
Virgin Trains has moved a step closer to challenging Eurostar’s three-decade dominance of Channel Tunnel passenger rail, potentially giving travellers more choice between the UK and mainland Europe.
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russian diplomat said, but any proposals should reflect the "realities on the ground".
Nearly 100 days after dozens of children were abducted from a school in northeastern Nigeria's Borno State, parents have taken to the streets to demand urgent government action to bring them home.
China and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen military ties and deepen cooperation in minerals, energy and technology as Jakarta balances relations with Beijing and Washington amid economic and geopolitical tensions.
An international conference in Baku on 21 August is putting Belgium’s colonial record in Africa under renewed scrutiny. Officials, United Nations experts, researchers and human rights advocates are gathering to discuss whether the country has done enough to address the legacy of its rule.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment