
MOSCOW, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Russia is counting on Serbia to fulfil its obligations over the U.S-sanctioned, Russian-owned NIS oil refinery despite the restrictions imposed on the company, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Putin said at his annual press conference that the situation with NIS was not easy, but Russia and Serbia had ideas on how to move it forward.
The U.S. placed sanctions on NIS, a controlling stake in which is held by Russian energy giants Gazpromneft SIBN.MM and Gazprom GAZP.MM, in October.