Serbia and Russia are lobbying frantically for a reprieve from U.S. sanctions on Serbia’s oil and gas company, NIS, which Washington targeted due to its majority Russian ownership. Belgrade and Moscow intend to send the U.S. Treasury Department a letter asking for an exemption, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Monday. Days earlier, Belgrade adopted legislation removing legal roadblocks to the construction of a $500 million hotel tied to the Trump family.

The Trump administration must hold firm to its sanctions. In fact, Washington should take this opportunity to recalibrate its broader policy toward Serbia. For too long, Belgrade has received a free pass for limiting domestic political freedoms, sowing chaos throughout the Western Balkans, and cozying up to America’s enemies. It is time for that to end.