Russia is readying itself to drastically reduce the amount of gas shipped to Belarus if gas monopoly Gazprom does not receive a 155-million-euro (192.1-million-dollar) payment by Monday, dpa cited the Interfax news service as reporting today. Citing Alexei Miller, head of Gazprom, Interfax reported that the Russian company is prepared to cut deliveries to Belarus by 85 per cent. A significant portion of gas headed to Western Europe passes through Belarus. Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said that his country would "find the money." The 15 per cent of gas that will otherwise continue to flow will be the bare minimum to maintain sufficient pressure in the pipeline, Miller said. Miller made his comments on the sidelines of a business seminar in St Petersburg. They reiterate statements made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday. The Moscow daily Kommersant reported Wednesday that Belarus' outstanding payments will reach some 500 million euros by the end of this year.
