MINSK, Belarus - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday that the United States is willing and able to provide Belarus with 100% of its oil and gas, taking a slap at Russia which recently cut off supplies. Pompeo is the first secretary of state to visit Belarus in 26 years and arrived in Minsk amid new tensions between Minsk and Moscow over energy. “The United States wants to help Belarus build its own sovereign country,“ Pompeo said at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei. The Russian suspension did not affect oil crossing Belarus to Europe or the supply of natural gas, but had consequences for Belarus, which relies on Russia for more than 80% of its energy needs. Since Lukashenko came to power in 1994, Belarus has suppressed opposition and its human rights record has been widely criticized.

Source: thestar February 01, 2020 09:05 UTC