Vucic says he is not ready to discuss potential sanctions against Moscow

Serbia is not ready to "even discuss" potential sanctions against Russia at the moment. This was stated by the country's President Aleksandar Vucic on December 14 amid reports of US plans to impose sanctions against the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS).

"As president of Serbia and as the person presiding over the National Security Council, I am not ready at the moment to even discuss potential sanctions against Moscow," Vucic told RTS TV channel, the video was published on the channel's YouTube channel.

Earlier, Vucic said that the information about the imminent imposition of sanctions against NIS by the States had been confirmed, but the Serbian leadership had not received the relevant official document so far. The President specified that upon receipt of such a document, he would try to talk to the US and Russia in order to resolve the problem.

"After we see the official document, we will first talk to the Americans, then we will talk to the Russians. We have to solve the problem, we cannot leave Serbia without oil in the middle of winter. At the same time, we will try to maintain friendly relations with Russia, but also not to spoil relations with those who impose sanctions," Vucic added.

The Serbian President recalled that his country had pursued a "principled, serious and responsible policy" from the very beginning of the Ukrainian conflict, advocating peace.

"From the very beginning, we adhered to the principles of international law, respected the UN Charter and asked for peace and truce, did not impose sanctions against the Russian Federation," the head of state concluded.

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On the eve it became known that the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) may approve the 15th package of anti-Russian sanctions on Monday, December 16.

Earlier, on December 11, the new sanctions package of Brussels agreed by the ambassadors of European countries. It was reported that it supplements the already existing list with new individuals and entities and targets organizations in Russia and third countries.

Western countries increased sanctions pressure on Russia after the start of the special operation to protect civilians in Donbas, which was announced on February 24, 2022.