Belarus delegation to Moscow for talks
A delegation from Belarus led by Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka is in Moscow, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kabyakou's spokesman Uladzislau Sychevich told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. The agenda of the talks is not officially announced but the sides are mostly likely to discuss the price of Russian natural gas for Belarus and the accumulated debt from 2016.
Belarus and Russia are going through rough times in bilateral relations. Belarus wants to pay around 70$ per 1000 cubic meters - the price it considers fair - and not $132 for 1000 cubic meters as stipulated in the contract. Moscow insists that Belarus' debt has already amounted to almost $550 million.
Belarus President Aliaksandr Lukashenka said earlier the next round of talks was to take place in the Russian capital on February 4. Apparently, the negotiations were shifted one week later.
