Kremlin comments on US sanctions against NIS and Aleksandar Vučić's request to speak with Vladimir Putin

(Patria) - Contacts of Russian President Vladimir Putin with friends and partners are coordinated as soon as possible, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS, commenting on the statement of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić about plans to talk with the Russian president.

Vučić said yesterday at a session of the Serbian government that the United States will soon prepare sanctions against NIS (Naftna industrija Srbije), a company in which Gazprom has a stake. The Serbian leader said he plans to send a request to talk with Putin between January 25 and 27.

"Talks with our friends and partners at the highest and other levels will be coordinated as soon as possible," the Kremlin spokesperson told TASS when asked about the readiness to immediately organize a conversation between Putin and Vučić.

Vučić said that the US will officially announce sanctions by January 15, and Belgrade will then have 30 days until February 15 to take measures. During this period, Serbia expects to conclude a gas supply contract and resolve the situation with the oil and gas company.

NIS is one of the most significant energy companies in Southeast Europe. Its main production facilities are located in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. The majority shareholders are Gazprom (56.15%) and the state of Serbia (29.87%), TASS reported last night.