Photo: belta.by

Russia and Belarus can find optimal solutions to the oil and gas issues in the immediate future despite the persisting differences in the parties’ positions, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said. He stressed that Russia will take into account the request of Belarus and is ready to compensate for the damage to the Belarusian refineries caused as a result of substandard oil supplies last year.

“In accordance with the request and documented losses incurred by the Belarusian refineries in the wake of the substandard oil supplies in 2019, the Russian side is ready to compensate for the damage. This position shows the commitment to the allied relations,” he said.

According to the diplomat, the parties agreed on approaches to calculating the final amount of the payments. “This is an example of the parties being willing to hear each other's arguments, to take mutual interests into account," he said.