Kyiv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Moldovan President Maia Sandu reached Kyiv on January 25 on an official visit to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Moldovan President’s visit comes amid an enduring energy crisis in Moldova’s Russian-occupied Transnistria region. While Moldova has switched over to European energy sources, Transnistria remains laboriously dependent on Russian gas.
Russian gas supplies to Transnistria were stopped on Jan. 1 due to Ukraine’s conclusion to contain Russian gas transit, including supplies to Moldova. Moldova has labelled the energy crisis as Kremlin blackmail and a threat to national security.
Maia Sandu on X stated,
“I bring a strong message of support for Ukraine and its people. Their courage secures our peace.”
“We’ll discuss security, energy, infrastructure, trade, and mutual support on the EU path. Moldova remains a reliable neighbour.”
In Kyiv today for talks with President @ZelenskyyUa. I bring a strong message of support for Ukraine and its people. Their courage secures our peace.
— Maia Sandu (@sandumaiamd) January 25, 2025
We’ll discuss security, energy, infrastructure, trade, and mutual support on the EU path. Moldova remains a reliable neighbour. pic.twitter.com/I34JPR39Tc
During the negotiations, Sandu renewed Moldova’s stance in favour of Ukraine amid the latter’s struggle against Russian aggression. Leaders of the two countries condemned massive Russian attacks targeting civilian infrastructure within Ukraine and asked Russian troops to withdraw from occupied territories.
How has Ukraine’s decision to suspend Russian gas transit affected Moldova?
Currently, there is a dramatic energy crisis gripping Moldova resulting from the shut-off of the Russian gas, which officially concluded on January 1, 2025. A disputed debt of around $709 million precipitated this halt in gas deliveries from Gazprom Russia to Moldova. This decision has plunged Moldova into an energy crisis, affecting not only the capital but also the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, which has always relied on Russian gas for heating and electricity.
The separatist region of Transnistria, populated by approximately 400,000 people, was the most adversely affected. Once the gas supplies were cut off, many houses were left to freeze and freeze without hot water during winter. In response to the crisis, the leader of Transnistria declared that it would buy gas from Moldovagaz, a state-owned gas company in Moldova, but has not given a date for re-establishing gas supplies.
