Business news

6 Jan 2026

Belarus’ ambassador speaks about gas agreements with Russia

An archive photo

MINSK, 6 January (BelTA) – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Aleksandr Rogozhnik spoke about the gas agreements between Belarus and Russia in an interview with the Belarus 1 television channel, BelTA reports.

Gas prices remain a key focus. At the end of 2025, a working meeting was held between Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Viktor Karankevich and Director General of Gazprom Transgaz Belarus Vladimir Mayorov with Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom Alexey Miller.

“Agreements were reached. I can say one thing: they are no worse than the terms that existed before 2026. Therefore, any sharp tariff increases are not expected. We agreed that economic entities will operate under fairly comfortable conditions,” Aleksandr Rogozhnik emphasized.

The INNOPROM. Belarus exhibition was held in 2025. “There was considerable interest. The matter of holding it again was discussed with Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov last week. He supported the idea of making INNOPROM. Belarus an annual event, as Russian manufacturers placed a very high value on our venue. It benefited everyone immensely, as a large number of bilateral contracts were signed. And most importantly, it allowed everyone to learn more about each other in one place. Moreover, we went a step further and reached an agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Trade [of Russia] to organize a trade and procurement session in June at the site of our agricultural exhibition Belagro, involving the entire retail sector of Russia, including the largest chains operating in food industry and light industry, as these goods today account for nearly 95% of sales. Our interest lies not only in selling more but also in achieving high profitability. At present, work is progressing very dynamically with all the chains,” the ambassador said sharing future plans.

Aleksandr Rogozhnik also discussed the challenges of Belarusian products accessing Russian retail chains. “Of course, entering retail chains is not an easy process. It’s challenging because each chain has its own requirements for packaging and delivery schedules. Chains are interested in having a significant selection of Belarusian products because, given the high demand, this generates revenue. We’ve begun opening [multi-brand trade spaces] ‘Belarusian Villages’ in major retail chains. Such facilities have opened in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and we’re already talking about opening similar spaces in cities with over a million residents. This is not only about sales but also about advertising a wide range of our products, from food to light industry goods, all in one place,” he noted.

Furthermore, the ambassador discussed the current status of the Moscow-Minsk high-speed railway project. “This is a high-tech project. It’s being developed primarily between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The project itself is very complex. Therefore, the technical and financial aspects are being discussed today to ensure that, like any project, it’s cost-effective and interesting to people. We have established very good relations with Russian Railways. On 15 December, the Lastochka train was launched in its new 10-car configuration. Today, there are very competitive rates for travel between the two capitals,” he said.

The ambassador expects 2026 to be another record-breaking year for Belarus and Russia in bilateral relations. “There are probably no nations closer. The past years have shown that it’s essential to rely on those who are close to you, not only in bilateral relations and trade, but also simply mentally, on a universal and historical level,” concluded Aleksandr Rogozhnik.