Cheap Gas Is Russia's Reward For Loyalty, Says Lukashenka
December 29, 2005
Belarusian President Lukashenka (R) with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin (file photo) (epa)
In an interview with the Russian-government daily "Rossiiskaya gazeta," Lukashenka said he was not surprised that Russia was seeking to quadruple the price of its gas deliveries to Ukraine.
He said this was a direct consequence of Ukraine's orientation toward the West and what he called Kyiv's "unfriendly" policies toward Russia.
While Russia is seeking to charge Ukraine some $230 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas from January 2006, Belarus will receive gas from Russia for just $47 per 1,000 cubic meters.
(Reuters)