Moscow (dpa) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with his counterpart from neighbouring Belarus on Friday finished without a deal to resolve an oil dispute that has soured their traditionally strong relations.

"We decided to continue our conversation not one on one but with those who are involved in this process," Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said after the meeting in the southern Russian city of Sochi, according to a statement by his office.

Lukashenko in recent weeks has accused Russia, Belarus' closest ally, of overcharging for oil and failing to comply with a supply agreement for the commodity.

Russian state media reported that a delegation including Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak had been unable to arrive at the meeting on time because of a flight delay due to inclement weather.

During the meeting, Putin apologized to Lukashenko for the Russian delegation being unable to attend, according to a transcript of their public opening comments.

Lukashenko arrived in Sochi the previous evening after a meeting with senior Belarusian energy officials during which he said Russia had failed to supply an agreed amount of oil last month.

While Russia had agreed to supply 2 million tons of oil per month to Belarus, "they supplied 500,000 tons, only a quarter, in January," Lukashenko said, according to a transcript.

Last week US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while on a trip to several former Soviet states, offered to supply Belarus with all of the oil it needs.

Pompeo was the highest-ranking US official to visit Belarus in more than a decade. The countries have in recent months been re-establishing relations once frayed over US accusations that Lukashenko rigged his 2006 re-election.

Lukashenko has led Belarus for a quarter of a century and has tolerated little dissent during that time.