Belarus climbs down, Russian oil may flow soon

MOSCOW/MINSK – Russia and Belarus neared a deal on Wednesday to resume oil supplies via a key export pipeline, as Minsk claimed a compromise with Moscow and European customers said crude could start flowing within hours.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko reached an understanding to resolve the three-day-old halt to the Druzhba (‘Friendship’) pipeline during a telephone call with Kremlin leader
Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko’s office said.

“As a result of the discussion, a compromise was found which will make it possible to unblock this dead-end situation,” it said in a statement.

Belarussian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said Minsk will revoke an oil transit duty it imposed last week, meeting Russia’s main demand for ending a bitter trade dispute.

Reuters