According to Beltransgaz, it signed an additional agreement to buy 640m cubic meters of natural gas from Trans Nafta, a Russian gas producer, in February. The price remained unchanged at $46.68 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas.

In accordance with the agreement, Gazprom resumed the transportation of Russian natural gas to Belarus at 14:47 Moscow time on Thursday, as well as the transit of Russian gas across the republic.

However, this will only suffice for ten days. Belarus has not yet signed an agreement on the transit of Russian gas across its territory.

In addition, Belarus is reported to have prepared a draft agreement on a loan from Russia to pay for Russian gas supplies. Russian Finance Minister stressed that Russia was ready to start talks on the issue. He said the loan would be provided on market terms, and its size would be in accordance with the gas contract that Belarus will sign with Gazprom.

Mr. Kudrin believes that talks on gas supplies and the loan could be held at the same time. The talks could start as soon as next week. Belarusian Finance Minister expressed readiness to fly to Moscow for this purpose.

For his part, Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov believes that Belarus’ agreement with Trans Nafta is just another half measure. In an interview on Echo of Moscow radio, Mr. Kupriyanov said Gazprom was ready to sign an agreement with Belarus on the transit of natural gas, at a price of $1.02 per 1,000 cubic meters/100 km, which is double the previous price. “After this agreement is signed, we will be ready to continue talks on gas supplies,” he noted.