Russia said on Saturday it was hopeful of settling a gas dispute with Belarus that threatens to cut some supplies to Europe next week, but signalled it was not ready to compromise on price. Europe pays close attention to Russia's gas price disputes with its neighbors after supplies to Europe were halted for almost two weeks in January 2009 while Moscow and Ukraine argued over prices and transit terms, Reuters reported. Russia has said it will cut 85 percent of gas supplies to Belarus from Monday if its neighbor fails to pay $192 million it says it owes to Gazprom. Minsk disputes this year's price increases and says it owes nothing. The two parties are due to meet on Saturday in a last-minute attempt to reach a deal.
