Russia to cut gas supply to Belarus

Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled gas monopoly, today said it will reduce natural gas supplies to Belarus by 45% as of August 3 after Minsk failed to pay for previous gas shipments.

The company tried to allay fears that the decision could reduce gas flowing to Europe through a key transit pipeline that handles about 20% of Russia’s gas exports.

“Gazprom will take all possible measures for the transportation of Russian gas through the territory of Belarus in full accordance with current obligations before European customers,” it said in a statement.