MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Moscow is confident that it will find a mutually acceptable solution with Minsk on gas prices, First Deputy Head of the Russian Government Office Sergei Prikhodko told reporters.

"We are confident that a mutually acceptable solution will be found," Prikhodko said. "The issue of natural gas prices for Belarus starting from 1 January 2020 will be discussed in the framework of the working group consisting of representatives of the energy ministries of Russia and Belarus. The group already held sessions in Moscow in September and in Minsk in November. The issue is also being considered at the level of prime ministers," he added.

Prikhodko stressed that the Russian cabinet of ministers "does not have information on disruptions in payments by the Belarusian side for gas supplied by Gazprom." "All payments are made by partners in accordance with conditions of the contract with Gazprom," he noted.

The issue of gas prices for Belarus was raised on December 6 at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Luksahenko discussed whether the current gas price that Belarus has to pay is fair. When Lukashenko said the price is too high, Putin noted that the price is two times lower for Belarus than for Germany. The Russian leader noted that "there should be unification" on this issue, but it requires another level of integration between the countries.

On Thursday the 49th session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Russia and Belarus will be held in the Belarusian city of Brest. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Rumas will take part in the session.