Moldova is facing a security crisis as tens of thousands of residents in the breakaway region of Transdniestria are cut off from Russian gas supplies, Prime Minister Dorin Recean informed on January 3.
The flow of Russian gas through Ukraine to Central and Eastern Europe was stopped at the end of 2024 when Kiev refused to continue business transactions with Moscow.
Prime Minister Recean said that Moldova will meet the country's energy needs through domestic production and imports. However, he noted that the breakaway region of Transdniestria has suffered a heavy blow when it lost Russian gas supplies despite its ties to Russia.
"We consider this a security crisis to create conditions for pro-Russian forces to return to power in Moldova and turn our territory into weapons against Ukraine - a country with a 1,200-km shared border," Reuters quoted the Moldovaese Prime Minister as saying.
Moldova - a Southeast European country with a population of about 2.5 million - has been the focus since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out.
In last year's election, pro-European President Maia Sandu won a second term. He pledged to accelerate reforms and strengthen democratization. Moldova is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections this summer.
The breakaway region of Transdniestria, which has a mostly Russian-speaking population, broke away from Moldova in the 1990s. Transdniestria receives Russian gas via Ukraine.
Moldova used to get most of its electricity from the Transdniestria region, but when Kiev announced it would stop transiting Russian gas, the Chisinau government had prepared alternative plans.
Moldova plans to focus on domestic electricity production and import electricity from Romania, Prime Minister Recean informed. He also affirmed that Moldova's officials are still committed to supporting the breakaway region of Transdniestria.
"Alternative energy solutions, such as energy fuel systems, generators, humanitarian aid and essential medical supplies, are ready to be provided if the dissolved leadership accepts support," the moldovan government statement said.
For his part, Transdniestria's pro-Russian leader, Mr. Vadim Krasnoselsky, said that Transdniestria has gas reserves that can meet 10 days of limited use in the northern regions and 20 days in the south.
