MINSK, Belarus — Russia has halted oil supplies to Belarus as talks on strengthening economic ties remained stalled over concerns that Russia could effectively swallow up its neighbor.
In a case that has echoes of Russia’s relationship with Ukraine before it annexed the Crimean Peninsula, Belarus’ state-owned oil company said Friday that Moscow has stopped supplying crude until contracts for this year are drawn up. Belarus’ two main refineries were operating at low capacity, running on reserves.
Russian oil company Transneft confirmed the suspension, which does not affect oil transit to Europe or the supply of natural gas.
Later on Friday, Belarus suspended …read more
Source:: San Francisco Chronicle
