Windows server 2012 standard activation fails with 0x80072EE2

I am facing a weird problem trying to activate a virtual server running windows server 2012 standard edition: in the end it ends up with 0x80072EE2 error (which should be a timeout).

The key is received as a retail from Microsoft under MPN and it is not a KMS activation. The output of slmgr /dlv (translated from russian :) goes hereafter:

Name: Windows(R), ServerStandard edition
Description: Windows(R) Operating System, RETAIL channel
Activation ID: some_big_hex_number
Application ID: another_big_hex
Extended PID: a-lot-of-digits
Installation ID: 257068649_digits_here_07675843
Licensing URL: https://activation.sls.microsoft.com/SLActivateProduct/SLActivateProduct.asmx?configextension=Retail
Validation URL: https://validation.sls.microsoft.com/SLWGA/slwga.asmx
Partial product key: M***W
Licensing state: notification
Notification reason: 0xC004F009 (grace period expired)
Re-activations remaining: 1000
Trusted time: 29.10.2013 22:11:51

Both URLs (licensing and validation) are accessible from the server in discussion, however activation keeps failing. There are also two events in application log, 1014 and 8200, both from Security-SPP stating the licensing error with the same 0x80072EE2 error. I have reviewed MS articles on the subject - nothing helped so far.