Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed...

Russia and Belarus signed in late January an array of agreements on crude oil deliveries and uninterrupted transits to Europe.

Russia earlier offered to supply the ex-Soviet republic with some 6.3 million metric tons of oil for domestic consumption duty-free and demanded Minsk pay full import duties on crude it refines and transits to Europe, dropping considerable subsidies.

Belarus, however, argued that Russia should supply up to 30 million metric tons of oil duty free, saying Russia"s demand ran contrary to the deal on the Customs Union signed between the two countries and Kazakhstan in late 2009.

Belarus also threatened to increase transit fees for Europe-bound oil from $3.90 to $45.

Under a compromise agreement between Russia and Belarus, Minsk will receive 6.3 million metric tons of oil duty-free this year, but the volume could rise later depending on the country"s economic performance.

Belarus consumes an estimated 8 million tons of oil a

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