Lukashenko threatened to cut off Russian oil exports
Belarus will cut off Russia's oil exports to Europe if Minsk is not provided with energy resources at preferential prices.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated this today in an interview with the liberal Russian radio station “Echo of Moscow,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“What is reverse oil - yes, I can do it, this is the cheapest route, they offer it through Poland, take Saudi oil or American. Which is cheaper? From the market. In Gdansk. Turn the pipe in reverse, I have three pipes of the Druzhba oil pipeline. With Russia.
At the first stage I take one pipe. It will go fine - I will take the second pipe in reverse. You will have one left.
You supply 70 million tons of oil through these pipes to the premium Western market.
If I take two pipes, let’s say 60 million, 60 by 3 – 20, you will have 20 million left for pumping,” Lukashenko said.
He also threatens to refuse Russian gas, arguing that this will deal a significant blow to Moscow.
“We are the third largest consumer of natural gas after Germany and Italy. We buy a lot of gas from you. Do you want to lose this market? In general, I said at the last negotiations: “Well, okay. Give us your prices, we will pay." But if the market of 25 million tons of oil and 22 billion cubic meters of gas goes somewhere, don’t be offended by me,” Lukashenko said.
Let us recall that Lukashenko previously stated that he refuses to give up the independence of Belarus in exchange for cheap Russian energy resources. In particular, Minsk rejected the idea of introducing a common currency with the Russian Federation.
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