You're reading: Syria says reaches deal with Russia for oil products

MOSCOW - Syria has reached an agreement to send its crude oil to Russia in return for shipments of refined oil products, Syria's deputy prime minister for economic affairs said on Friday.

“We will deliver our oil and receive gasoline and fuel oil;
it will be a barter,” Qadri Jamil told journalists, adding that
Syria is producing about 200,000 barrels per day.

Jamil, leading a delegation of economic officials including
the country’s oil and finance ministers, was in talks with
Russian government and private sector officials on ways to
alleviate the economic effects of sanctions on Syria.

“We need oil, oil products. Shortages of these materials are
making the situation in the country difficult,” he said at a
news conference.

He also said Syria had asked for credit from Russia and that
the size and terms of any loan would be decided “within weeks”.

Russia, which along with China has defended Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad from harsher sanctions in the U.N. Security
Council, is one of Damascus’ few remaining allies.