Minsk aspires to compensate for losses from oil with additional gas concessions

The talks about changing the formula for the gas price for Belarus are still ongoing, no decision, as yet. Belarusian government officials are demonstrating optimism and confidence that Russia will reduce the gas price. However, each month, the lack of the decision increases Belarus’ losses from the reduced supply of the Russian oil to the Belarusian refineries. However, the Belarusian leadership avoids the aggravation and is not willing to raise the issue publicly, unlike before. The Russian government insists that Belarus accepts and repays its debt for gas, and then it will be ready to resume oil supplies to Belarus in agreed volumes. Minsk waits for Moscow to accept concessions on gas price and until then pretends there is not tension in relations with the Kremlin.