Putin meets Belarusian President Lukashenko for integration talks

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Sochi on Friday for another round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over closer economic ties between the two countries.

Lukashenko has accused the Kremlin of not keeping to its oil-supplying obligations after he said only 25% of the oil Russia promised was supplied to the country last month.

Belarus relies on Russia for most of its energy needs and Russia has argued its ex-Soviet ally should accept greater economic integration if it wants to continue receiving Russian resources at Russia's domestic prices.

The two leaders smiled and chatted about the weather as they sat down for difficult talks at Putin's residence in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Rumas said on Thursday the country had lost $300 million in 2019 after Russia cut energy subsidies and raised prices.

Putin and Lukashenko met twice in December but failed to resolve their differences which lead to Russia cutting oil supplies to Belarus at the start of the year.