Russia, Belarus could switch to settlements in rubles in energy trade - Russian ambassador to Belarus
MINSK. Dec 27 (Interfax) - Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov believes that Russia and Belarus could go over to settlements in Russian rubles in energy trade.
"Traditionally, Belarus needs currency as payments for oil and gas that are made in currency. That is probably why the $2 billion loan is provided in dollars. However, we could agree on settlements for energy in rubles," Surikov told a press conference in Minsk on Friday.
Surikov reiterated that he does not see any problems with going over to settlements in rubles.
Settlements between Russia and Belarus for gas, oil and petroleum products are now made in U.S. dollars.
The possibility of going over to settlements in rubles in trade in oil and petroleum products was actively discussed by Belarus in 2011, during an acute financial crisis. In 2008, Minsk also discussed the possibility of partial transfers of settlements for oil and petroleum products into euros. However, Belarus gave up that idea after a large-scale crisis began in the eurozone.
