GORKI (Sputnik) — Belarus will begin making payments for Russian natural gas at contractual prices this week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Monday.
"Current payments set out in the contract will be made in full this week, meaning there will not be new debts," Dvorkovich said at a meeting with deputy prime ministers.
He estimates that Minsk owes Moscow more than $300 million and should be repaid by October 20.
28 September 2016, 17:37 GMT
However, the price for Russian natural gas delivered to Belarus will remain without discounts, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting with prime ministers Monday.
"Once again I would like to emphasize that the price for gas supplied to Belarus remains the same, is calculated by the existing formula, there has been no adjustment. The debt needs to be repaid in order to restore normal economic relations. I hope the Belarusian partners understand this," Medvedev said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed earlier in the day that the countries signed a settlement agreement on Sunday.
