Moldovan president explains why Moldova does not buy gas from Russia

President Maia Sandu has explained why Moldova is currently not purchasing natural gas from Russia, noting that supplies to the country were reduced and subsequently cut off in 2022, and that after the expiration of the transit agreement through Ukraine, Russian gas no longer reaches even the Transnistrian region. President Maia Sandu made statements to this effect, after a meeting of the National Security Council.

“I know that some people still wonder why we do not buy natural gas from Russia. I want to remind them that Russia reduced and then halted gas deliveries to our country in 2022, violating the provisions of the contract. Also, after the expiration of the transit agreement through Ukraine, Russia no longer supplies Russian natural gas even to the Transnistrian region, where it supports a separatist regime,” Maia Sandu said.

The head of state also referred to the situation on Russia’s fuel market, as well as the revenues generated by that country from energy exports.

“Russia is facing a severe shortage of motor fuels. And let us not forget that the money Russia earns from selling energy resources is used to kill innocent people in Ukraine and to send drones, including into our airspace, endangering people’s security,” Maia Sandu said.

According to the Moldovan Energy Ministry, Gazprom first reduced the volume of gas supplied to Moldova in October 2021, and limited deliveries again in the autumn of 2022. Since December 2022, Chisinau has stopped purchasing gas from Gazprom for the right bank of the Dniester, with the demand being covered by supplies purchased on the European market.

Starting from January 1, 2025, the Russian company Gazprom unjustifiably suspended the delivery of natural gas to Moldovagaz, even though a valid contract remains in force until 2026, leaving consumers in the Transnistrian region without natural gas and, consequently, without electricity, heating, and hot water. Moldovan authorities at that time accused Russia of intentionally halting natural gas deliveries, in order to cause “dissatisfaction on both banks” of the Dniester and once again use “gas as a weapon.”

In response to the situation, the European Union allocated a 30 million euros grant to purchase the energy resources needed by consumers on both the left and right banks of the Dniester. At the same time, the EU provided 60 million euros in assistance to meet the energy needs of the Transnistrian region. However, the support was rejected by Tiraspol. The energy crisis in Transnistria, triggered by the complete suspension of free supplies from Gazprom on January 1, 2025, was resolved through a coordinated intervention by Chisinau and the European Union.