Vucic: Difficult tasks, uneasy decisions ahead in strategic dialogue with US

SVILAJNAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday difficult tasks and uneasy decisions were ahead of Serbia in strategic dialogue with the US, but noted that conducting dialogue with the US was in Serbia's interest.

"We think conducting strategic dialogue with the US is in Serbia's interest. We think that is important," Vucic told reporters during a visit to Svilajnac, central Serbia.

He said this when asked to comment on a statement by former Serbian ambassador to Washington Milan St Protic, who has said strategic dialogue with the US had no practical relevance but was sheer propaganda by the current Serbian authorities.

"I have no comment on what Mr Protic said. If they think it is propaganda... I think that very difficult tasks and many uneasy decisions on that matter are ahead of us. I do not know what part of that would constitute propaganda. I think it is a very important thing. Americans are not so popular in Serbia for this to be any kind of propaganda," he said.

"We are acting in line with Serbian interests. We think conducting strategic dialogue with America is in Serbia's interest," Vucic said, reiterating that that would "very important" but "by no means simple or easy."

Vucic: We will do all we can for resolution of NIS issue, I am not very optimistic

VELIKA PLANA/SVILAJNAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that, for its part, Serbia would do everything in its power for a resolution of the NIS issue but that, right now, no one knew whether the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) would extend licences issued to NIS and the Hungarian oil company MOL after July 31 and that he was not very optimistic about the matter.

Since October 9, 2025, the Serbian oil firm NIS has been under US sanctions due to its Russian-majority ownership.

Recently, the OFAC extended an operating licence for NIS until July 31.

A licence for MOL-Gazprom neft talks about an acquisition of a Russian majority stake in NIS by MOL was also extended until the same date.

Asked by reporters if he expected the licences to be extended again and what he thought about a statement by Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic, who has said he expected a new extension, Vucic responded that he was not certain about such an outcome.

"I really do not know what to tell you. I would ask you how he (Bajatovic) knows that. And you tell me: what does this have to do with Bajatovic and how does he know that? I am not sure. I am not sure anyone knows that," Vucic said.

"I have not been very optimistic throughout all this time because I knew this would be very difficult," Vucic added, noting that Serbia was the least to blame for the situation.

He noted that he was not optimistic but that he still had hope.

"Will we do all we can to make that happen? Certainly," Vucic said during a visit to the construction site of a bridge on the Velika Morava River near Svilajnac and Velika Plana, central Serbia.

Vucic: I will not become PM without elections, I will call elections once gov't resigns

SVILAJNAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that, under a likely scenario, the Serbian government would resign first and that he would then call parliamentary elections and perform the duties of president for a few more days - two weeks at most - and then step down.

"There is an option under which I and the government would resign and I would be elected PM by the parliament after two days, if I have a majority in the parliament but, for me, that is not an option. If and when I ask the people to vote for me to assume that post, it is only after I get the people's votes for that post that I can possibly become that (PM). So, even though all that is according to the law, and fully legal and legitimate, I will not do that (become PM without elections)," Vucic told reporters during a visit to Svilajnac, central Serbia.

He added that the government was likely to resign first, or that, alternatively, the parliament would inform him he did not have the required majority. "

The moment I receive such information from the government or the National Assembly, I will call elections for MPs. I will remain president of the Republic for a short while longer, for a few more days, or two weeks at most, because I have many important things to do that have to do with Serbia as a state, so I will not be campaigning," Vucic said.

He added that, after resigning, he would join a United Serbia electoral list. "

There is not much philosophy there: I will get into my car - my Skoda awaits me - and I will go from one place in Serbia to another to seek the people's support for a mandate for PM, in case such a decision is made," Vucic said.