Russia can stop oil exports to Belarus January 1

The protracted negotiations between Moscow and Minsk on the conditions of Russian oil supplies to Belarusian oil refineries can lead to a prostate of pumping raw materials from January 1, 2020. Itis reported by Reuters with reference to six sources. As of the morning of December 31, no ton of oil from Russia was issued for Belarus, two interlocutors of the agency said.

In Transneft and the Russian Ministry of Energy, they did not respond to Reuters request. Belneftekhim refused to comment.

Moscow and Minsk cannot agree on oil prices, transit tariffs through the territory of Belarus, as well as on compensation for the deterioration of the economy of Belarusian oil refineries after a tax maneuver in Russia.

On the eve of the President Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko held a telephone conversation, during which they once again discussed the supply of Russian oil and gas to Belarus. The press service of Lukashenko said that if the contracts are not concluded before January 1, the governments of the two countries should develop an intermediate version of the supply conditions. When “necessity” Putin and Lukashenko can hold a meeting for decisions after Christmas holidays in mid-January, the press service of the Belarusian leader said in a statement.

On December 20, the presidents of Russia and Belarus met in St. Petersburg. The main topic of the conversation was the in -depth integration of countries within the framework of the Treaty on the creation of the Union State. Lukashenko then said that Russia and Belarus have reached energy agreements. According to him, in 2020, Minsk will buy about 20 billion cubic meters of gas from Moscow and 24–25 million tons of oil at prices "no higher than 2019." However, Lukashenko later said that if Russia sets too high the price of the purchase of gas and oil, Belarus will begin to look for other supplies, for example, use the oil reverse through Poland.