Return our oil, Russia tells Belarus

While there have been reports of a deal in the trade dispute between Russia and Belarus, the oil pipeline at the centre of the row remains shut down. A Russian government minister has been quoted as saying Moscow wants Minsk to give back
some 80,000 tonnes of oil, which it claims was taken by Belarus in the past few days.

The pipeline carries crude oil from Russia to western Europe. There were fears in the EU the crisis could lead to a shortfall.

Earlier Belarus said it had reached a compromise with Russia. The Russian minister is reported to have said his country would resume pumping within four hours of receiving the oil allegedly siphoned off by Belarus.

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