Lukashenko explained the situation with an apology to Putin over a dispute about the price of gas
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that he personally apologized to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the summit of the Eurasian economic Union (EEU) in St. Petersburg, reports Belarusian state news Agency BelTA. According to him, there was “a mess” and to each other, apologizing all the participants, including the Russian President.
Upstairs
The Belarusian leader said that the Russian media was biased coverage of the incident. “What they (Russian media) do: give a squabble with Putin in the open air, and then that Lukashenko had to apologize to Putin for the fact that he joined in the conversation. Yes, the Lord is with you! I would beneath his dignity decided to apologize for it,” — said Lukashenko.
The incident occurred on December 6 at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian economic Council. Lukashenko publicly criticized the price at which Russia sells gas to Belarus. The Belarusian leader said that the rate of “Gazprom” for gas transportation from the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous district for Belarus is three times higher than for Russian consumers. As a result of Russian gas for Belarus is almost $130 per 1,000 cubic meters and the wholesale price for bordering Russia in Smolensk region is almost twice lower — $70.
Putin in turn called on Lukashenko to pay attention not to the tariff, and the final price of fuel. He recalled that this year the Minsk pays for 1,000 cubic meters to $129, and no preferences in the framework of the EAEU gas would cost $200. Lukashenko continued to argue with Putin and after the proposal of the Russian leader to discuss the issue on the closed part of the meeting. Later, Lukashenko said that he had apologized to Putin for this discussion. “In bad form (acted), so then I had to apologize to the host of today’s meeting. It was very rough explanation, but you better hear this,” he concluded.