Vucic: Talks between Russian side and major company about NIS nearing conclusion

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday evening talks between the Russian side and a major company about Serbia's oil company NIS - which is under US sanctions due to its Russian majority ownership - were nearing conclusion and that he expected trilateral negotiations to be held in Belgrade by Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

"I expect that, of course, they will also have to speak with the Serbs - the Serbian side, with us - and I expect us to potentially hold those trilateral talks by Monday, or Tuesday at the latest, in Belgrade, Serbia, of course, to try to bring that story to a close. But I have to tell you that my optimism is not high, although it still exists, because we will not know where we stand until the OFAC (the US Office of Foreign Asset Control) approves a transaction," Vucic said in an appearance on the RTS.

He added that successful completion of the talks was crucial for Serbia and would mean full normalisation of NIS operations.