Hungarian energy company Mol Nyrt. is nearing a takeover of Serbia's sole oil refinery as U.S. sanctions force Russia's Gazprom Neft PJSC to sell its controlling stake. Hungary will ask U.S. authorities to lift sanctions on the Serbian refinery.
Serbian company NIS, controlled by Gazprom Neft, received the first batches of oil for the refinery in Pančevo. This will allow the plant to operate at full capacity for at least nine days.
The Serbian oil refinery NIS, owned by Russia and under US sanctions, will start operating on January 17 or 18. This became possible after receiving a temporary license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department.
Investigators suspect that sparklers on champagne bottles caused a fire in a bar at a Swiss ski resort. 40 people died, 119 were injured.
Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe in 2025 decreased by 44% to 18 billion cubic meters, which is the lowest figure since the mid-1970s. This happened after the closure of the Ukrainian route and the cessation of fossil fuel imports from Russia.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the dismantling of tent camps in Belgrade after student protests. He also confirmed the reinstatement of compulsory military service from 2026 for men aged 19-27 for 75 days.
The Vetëvendosje party won 50. 8% of the votes in Kosovo's parliamentary elections, securing a third term for leader Albin Kurti. This is the party's fourth consecutive election victory.
The Serbian government has supported negotiations between NIS's Russian owners and Hungarian MOL regarding the sale of a controlling stake. The aim of the deal is to remove the country's largest energy company from under US sanctions.
The draw for the group stage of the 2026/2027 Nations League will take place on February 12, 2026, in Brussels. The Ukrainian national team will compete in League B.
Banks in a number of countries around the world have begun to massively block accounts of Russians and tighten checks on their transactions. This is happening after Russia was included in the list of high-risk countries by the European Commission.
The United Kingdom has cut funding for countering Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans from £40 million to £24 million for 2025-26. This funding is aimed at combating national security threats and strengthening democratic institutions.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's plane was damaged at Brussels airport, rendering it unairworthy. Fico also expressed support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who did not attend the summit, protesting against the EU's unfair treatment of Serbia.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that his country will not participate in the meeting of EU leaders with their counterparts from the Western Balkans. This is Vučić's personal decision, who claims to be protecting the interests of Serbia, which has made little progress in its bid to join the EU.
The US has denied Serbia a license to operate the Russian-owned NIS refinery in Pančevo, blocking crude oil supplies. This jeopardizes the stability of the country's fuel market and leads to daily losses of 370,000 euros.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Volodymyr Tolkach from the post of Ukraine's Ambassador to Serbia. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who previously headed the Foreign Intelligence Service and served as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), has been appointed to this position.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, denied permission for a Hungarian military aircraft carrying Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to land. The reason cited was Hungary's support for actions undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty and the lack of explanation regarding the use of a military aircraft.
Russia decided to sell a 56. 15% stake in the Serbian oil and gas company NIS after US sanctions. The buyer's name has not yet been disclosed; the majority of shares are controlled by Gazprom Neft.
Ukraine and eight other countries have joined the EU's decision to impose sanctions against the leadership of Transnistria. These countries will ensure that their national policies align with this decision.
According to the Serbian leader, his country found itself "between a hammer and an anvil. " This is what forces Belgrade to invest heavily in its own defense.
Thousands protested in Belgrade against the demolition of the former Yugoslav army headquarters. The Serbian parliament passed a law allowing Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to build a luxury hotel and residential complex on the site.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, discussing European integration and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The parties also touched upon interstate cooperation and regional security.
Serbia has passed a law allowing the acceleration of the Trump Tower project in Belgrade, supported by Jared Kushner. This has sparked fierce political controversy and protests, despite which the authorities have granted the developer a 99-year lease.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the decision not to impose sanctions against Russia could be reconsidered. The government has the right to change this decision, adopted by the National Security Council in 2022.
The EU Commission is considering introducing additional visa restrictions that may affect Russian citizens. These measures are under consideration, but their final scope has not yet been determined.
The European Commission has urged Serbia to restrict the issuance of passports to Russian citizens who use them for visa-free entry into the EU. This poses a threat to European security, so Serbia must align its visa policy with EU norms.
Serbia is considering early parliamentary elections as a way to stabilize the internal situation after mass protests. President Aleksandar Vučić proposed holding elections earlier to overcome political tensions.
The European Commission will publish its annual report on candidate countries for EU membership on November 4. Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania, according to media reports, received mostly positive assessments.
In an interview with CBS News, Donald Trump pulled out a list of 8 "ended wars" that he allegedly completed in 8 months. Critics questioned his claims.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the country's warehouses are overflowing with ammunition, which it is ready to sell to European countries. He noted that buyers can do whatever they want with the ammunition, even if it eventually reaches Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of students and opponents of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić gathered in the city of Novi Sad on the anniversary of the collapse of a canopy at the railway station, which claimed the lives of 16 people. The action was peaceful, despite Vučić's threats and the suspension of train traffic.
