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Russia warns it may cut oil exports to Belarus in Q3

Russia may supply less crude oil to Belarus than originally planned in the third quarter of this year, Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak told reporters in Saint Petersburg on June 16.

The minister did not explain why oil exports to Belarus may be below the original projections in July-September.

Earlier this year, Belarus sharply reduced exports of petroleum products to Russia, which the latter condemned as a violation of a bilateral agreement. Moscow warned in response that it may cut oil exports to Belarus.

Speaking in late May, Vital Pawlaw, deputy head of the Belarusian State Petrochemical Industry Concern, said that Belarus abided by the agreement.

"We are working within the framework of our agreements," Mr. Pawlaw said.

However, he did not specify how much gasoline Belarus had supplied to Russia this year, saying that "there is no point in speaking about figures when the first five months of the year have not passed yet."

Asked about the prospects for an increase in gasoline exports to Russia, Mr. Pawlaw said that it depended on the price of gasoline in Russia.