ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russia and Belarus say they have settled an energy dispute that had tainted relations between the two neighbors and allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks in St. Petersburg on Monday with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that they negotiated a settlement to the oil and gas disputes and government officials would finalize the details in 10 days.
Russian news agencies quoted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich saying the deal calls for Belarus to gradually pay off a $726-million debt for Russian natural gas supplies in return for Russia resuming oil shipments to Belarus refineries.
The talks were overshadowed by an explosion that ripped through a subway train in St. Petersburg, killing 10 people and wounding about 40 others in what officials called a terror attack.