Lukashenko Is Being Set Up

• 12.08.2026, 14:06

Russia is asking for more fuel.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Alexander Turchin met with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin. Official reports on the talks from the Belarusian side were extremely sparse, while there were none at all from the Russian side. However, given the return of gasoline gasoline crisis in Russia and the scope of the Russian minister’s responsibilities—which were discussed—one can assume this with a high degree of certainty. It appears that Russia is asking Belarus for even more gasoline, writes planbmedia.io.

“The focus is on current issues of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, including mutual energy supplies,” according to a statement from the Belarusian government.

At the same time, the system of mutual supplies has long been established. Russia supplies oil to Belarusian refineries and, in return, purchases increasing amounts of fuel. In June, Belarusian shipments to Russia totaled 141,000 metric tons. In July, they rose to 212,000.

So, it would seem there is nothing to discuss when everything has already been decided. However, they are discussing it—and not for the first time.

“The meeting was a logical continuation of the dialogue that took place in Cholpon-Ata and the agreements reached by the heads of the Belarusian and Russian governments, Alexander Turchin and Mikhail Mishustin,” — according to a statement from the Belarusian government.

And just one day before the meeting with the Russian deputy minister, Turchin reported the results of his talks with Mishustin to Alexander Lukashenko. Once again, the authorities did not share any details of this report.

Theoretically, one might assume that Russia is requesting an increase in supply volumes. Especially since, after a very brief respite, the gasoline crisis is returning.

The idea of downgrading gasoline to Euro-2 and Euro-3 standards brought only temporary relief. And imported supplies could only partially offset the shortage for as long as Ukraine reduced the number of attacks on refineries. In early August, Ukraine’s long-range sanctions began to hit Russian oil refining with their former intensity, and it turned out that much more needed to be imported.

However, there is one small problem here. Belarus cannot increase its gasoline exports to Russia. July’s shipments were already at the limit of Belarus’s capacity. Belarusian refineries produce 290,000–300,000 metric tons per month. Of that, about 100,000 metric tons is consumed domestically in Belarus. Belarus can only sell more gasoline to Russia at the expense of its domestic market.

Diesel is a different story. Belarusian refineries produce about 500,000 metric tons of diesel per month. Domestic consumption amounts to 180,000–190,000 metric tons. In July, Belarus supplied 160,000 metric tons of diesel fuel to Russia. Consequently, there is potential to nearly double those shipments.

At the same time, back in July, the situation with diesel in Russia was much more stable than with gasoline. This is because Ukraine’s attacks mainly targeted gasoline refineries. But other facilities were also affected. So the problems gradually mounted. Now, many industrial enterprises are reporting critically low diesel fuel reserves. In the Krasnodar Krai, there is already not enough diesel fuel for the harvest season.

But diesel isn’t needed just for harvesters. Diesel is the primary fuel for the war. And Pavel Sorokin, a member of the Russian government, is responsible, among other things, for fuel supplies for the Russian army’s needs as part of the defense procurement program. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Lukashenko was involved in the discussion of this promising commercial proposal. After all, to risk the safety of Belarusian oil refineries, approval is needed at the very highest level.