17.11.2025.
7:27
Vučić at the Government session regarding NIS situation: "We have 25,000 tons of diesel in military reserves"
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attended a government session at the Palace of Serbia. The session focused on the U.S. OFAC’s response to NIS’s request for an exemption from sanctions.
Vučić: Fuel reserves are better than ever
"One year ago, when I announced that such sanctions might come and spoke about the intentions to push Russians out of ownership, the entire public in our country, and everyone else—including you in the Government and the wider state apparatus—reacted with 'ok, drama queen, it will pass in a month, two, or three.' Even though I warned that problems would accumulate, no one wanted to hear it. Thanks primarily to my talks with the Americans, whom I pleaded with—though I cannot praise them, because they did nothing good for us—we know who imposed the sanctions on a Serbian company. I asked them several times to postpone the start of the sanctions, and then we got used to it happening," said Vučić.
"We have suffered like grass in a clash of elephants, and there is no whining or crying over our fate," he added.
"Sanctions on Serbia have effectively been in place for 37 days. For 37 days, no one in Serbia has felt anything! Not at any gas station, not in healthcare, not in supply chains. No one was troubled, because you thought we would handle this easily. We have prepared well in reserves, in the army, everything we asked for. Our food reserves are at 100 percent, fuel reserves are better than ever. We have 25,000 tons of diesel in military reserves! If needed, some of it can be used for civilian purposes. Two years ago, I asked the police to secure reserves—they have nothing," he said.
Vučić emphasized that the Ministry of Health is fully supplied with diesel, and that part of the military reserves could be redirected if necessary.
"Nothing here should stop! Now, to help people understand what happened yesterday or the day before, the Americans set a deadline for establishing a new ownership structure. I’m not speaking about morality—you know what I think about the Americans’ decision. But they set a deadline until February for it to be completed. However, they are not allowing us to use JANAF. The Croatians cut off the oil supply one hour before the sanctions were imposed. They didn’t want to risk even a second, and they were making 50 million euros annually from us," the president said.
He added that Serbia has been constantly at risk due to its relationship with Russia.
"To ensure our banks are not jeopardized, we must resolve this so we don’t endanger the entire financial system. I understand, Siniša, your nervousness, but don’t spread it. Buy gasoline as soon as possible; if a budget revision is needed, these are extraordinary circumstances, call the Parliament. We must have sufficient reserves. Allocate 60 million for that. Add extra diesel as a precaution," the president said.
He instructed Jorgovanka Tabaković to talk with the Russians, noting that there are a few days to resolve certain issues.
"I believe that since one condition for talks about ownership to be accepted is met, I hope Asian and European partners will agree to discuss ownership. This means we can jointly inform OFAC in a letter. We will sign that letter both as the country where this is happening and as owners of 29 percent. Then we will wait for the Americans’ decision—whether they will accept it or not, and whether they will allow oil supply, or not. What is the condition for enabling oil flow? Because without oil supply until February, we would collapse. Then the refinery stops, it’s collapse. I will speak with the Americans to allow some oil supply so the refinery can operate," Vučić said.
He added that if an agreement on purchase price is not reached, Serbia should offer a better price:
"Even though we are not the Russian choice, others are. We must offer a better price if they don’t accept. This requires talks with all financiers, and if there is no solution, no matter the cost, we will find the money. We will talk to Europeans. Jorgovanka, the special operation we discussed, we must carry it out. We will inform the citizens if it is accepted. I want to avoid nationalization and confiscation at all costs. This is not majority-owned by us but by Russians. They have rights to decide, but we have the right to live," he said, noting that Serbia has not acted as other regional countries have.
"We have seven days to make a decision," he said.
He detailed the current reserves:
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NIS operational reserves: gasoline – 7,200 tons; diesel – 33,000 tons
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Jet fuel – 3,800 tons; the army has 15,000 tons in reserves
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Non-operational reserves: 50,000+ tons of gasoline and over 90,000 tons of diesel
Vučić told Minister Mali that additional fuel oil must be secured.
He also instructed local authorities to start paying utility bills to avoid public issues and urged Bajatović to complete the gas projects for Valjevo and Aleksandrovac-Tutin that had not been done in five years.
Vučić concluded: "Today, I will speak with potential Asian and European Russian partners. We will request a rapid agreement on price. If they do not agree, we will offer a higher price to purchase it. We even want to prepay, but we do not want to seize anything from anyone. I will not participate in extortion or taking money just because we don’t like someone. We will pay more, but we must act. Both the refinery and NIS must operate! Also, regarding the police and reserves, next time listen to me."
The President reassured citizens that they have nothing to worry about.
"It will be another 30 days, and you will not feel anything. But the state will start to face problems. You don’t need to worry; there will be enough of everything. Of course, this will not happen without consequences for our country," Vučić said.
Ana Brnabić stated that if a budget revision is needed, the Parliament is ready to act immediately.
Vučić added that the Russians must be allowed, until the very last moment, to sell their share, without resorting to nationalization.
Djedović: "We must take action"
"We must take action; we must make tough decisions. We have to be prepared for this. I urge the Government of Serbia to convene daily. We have no time. NIS is under sanctions," said Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedović Handanović.
"We all need to be ready because we must be aware of the serious situation we are in. That’s why I ask the Government to meet daily and make decisions on a daily basis. We have no time. The situation is clear: NIS has been under US sanctions since October 9. We have repeatedly received extensions to operate thanks to our efforts and dialogue, but the sanctions officially took effect on October 9. Just yesterday, we received a clear message from the US that the Russian shareholders must permanently exit NIS. We have three months to complete that transaction, and it must be approved by the US government. For 37 days, we have not received a drop of oil from JANAF, yet citizens haven’t felt it thanks to our careful preparation and preserved reserves," the minister emphasized.
She added that Serbia has been steadily increasing its reserves, which have grown by about 60%.
"We have been preparing for unpredictable situations so that we can react. However, we must protect our reserves. As Minister of Energy, I inform you that managing this ministry while NIS is under sanctions is impossible. I am ready to resign, because without the Pančevo refinery, we cannot function. It is vital for citizens and the economy," she said.
"We can wait three or four days, but no longer, because there is no inflow of crude oil," she added.
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