UPDATE: Minsk to stop oil talks with Russia, look for other suppliers

(rewrites story)

MINSK/MOSCOW, Dec 31 (PRIME) – Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the government to finish oil negotiations with Russia in the next few hours and start looking for alternative ways of oil supplies, including through the Druzhba pipeline, Belta news agency reported on Tuesday quoting head of Belneftekhim company Andrei Rybakov.

“After a (government) meeting head of Belneftekhim company Andrei Rybakov said following the telephone conversations Alexander Lukashenko ordered to finish negotiations between the companies of Russia and Belarus in the next few hours and sign oil supply contracts to ensure uninterrupted operations of two refineries,” Belta reported.

It also said that Lukashenko ordered to ensure oil supplies from alternative sources.

“This is mainly by rail transport from the Baltic ports as well as Druzhba oil pipeline, which should be used for alternative supplies,” it said.

The report came soon after the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko discussed Russian oil supplies to Belarus by telephone, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the risks of the failed oil deal with Minsk should not be exaggerated.

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