economy
Karaoke in Belgrade, Jury in Washington
If anyone was wondering where the Minister of Energy is, the story is that these days she has been seen on the Danube placing 'dragon's teeth' around the refinery in Pančevo. There, they told her, are now our red ('Stalin's') lines.
TL;DR
- Serbia has issued an ultimatum to MOL regarding the sale of the Russian stake in NIS.
- MOL's response and US verification of the deal are pending.
- Russia is using 'smoke bombs' and introducing new bidders for NIS, creating a diversion.
- The US is observing the situation without immediate intervention.
- Serbia's attempts to influence the deal, particularly regarding the Pančevo refinery's full capacity, are seen as largely performative for the domestic audience.
- The author suggests that the final decision on NIS's fate will be made in Moscow, Budapest, and Washington, not Belgrade.
- A 'drop-in' pseudobuyer may have been introduced by Russia to pressure MOL on the sale price.
- The negotiation process is described as a 'circus' with staged uncertainty and media spin.