(ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT 4 - Serbian oil group NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije) applied to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for a further postponement in the implementation of sanctions, which are scheduled to take effect after October 8. On September 27, the U.S. postponed the implementation of sanctions scheduled to begin on October 1st by another eight days. Sanctions announced earlier this year by the past U.S. administration of Joe Biden because of the majority ownership of Nis held by Russian energy giant Gazprom. Washington had clarified that it did not intend to target Serbia, but Russia, whose profits from NIS's capital are helping to finance the military offensive in Ukraine. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he was convinced about Washington's willingness to eventually implement the sanctions announced and postponed seven times. "They will enforce the sanctions, and we will see what to do," said Vucic, who opposed a scenario of nationalization of the oil company without an agreement with Russia. (ANSA).