A Minor Energy Dispute Between Russia and Belarus

Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Jan. 20. The meeting came as Belarus and Russia are involved in another energy dispute — this time over oil duties. Moscow and Minsk have a history of energy disputes that are often politically motivated and frequently lead to energy cutoffs. This dispute, however, does not appear likely to erupt into a crisis and is motivated by price more than politics.