EU says Russia ‘weaponizing’ gas against Moldova

A top European Union official has said that Russia is weaponizing its natural-gas supply to deliberately punish Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest nations, as a gas dispute between Moscow and Chisinau shows no sign of resolution.

Gas contract

Moldova declared a state of energetic emergency last week after its gas contract with Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom, the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, expired at the end of last month. The two sides have failed to agree on details of a new long-term deal.

Gazprom has extended the contract to the end of October. It raised the price to $790 per cubic meters from $550 last month.

„In global terms the price increases around the world are not a consequence of weaponization of the gas supply. But in the case of Moldova, yes it is,” the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said  in Brussels on Oct. 27 next to Moldova’s Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita.

Gas supply

Russia has been threatening to cut off the gas supply to the small ex-Soviet republic, which borders EU member Romania and Ukraine, at the end of the year if the current contract is not extended.

Some commentators say Moscow has hiked prices in retaliation for Moldova electing pro-Western President Maia Sandu.

„In the case of Moldova, political characteristics have to be taken into account … In the case of Moldova, it’s a sharp (price) increase which was related with political problems, which requires our support,” Mr. Borrell said.

EU aid

The EU promised 60 million euros in aid to Moldova on October 27. Ms Gavrilita said EU support was important for the impoverished nation of 3.1 million.

„We believe that the next few weeks are crucial…. We think that Moldova’s friends should help us to get alternative supplies,” she said.

Russia has been criticized for setting prices according to a country’s political alliances.  Moscow ally, Belarus, recently managed to negotiate a lower price for 2022.

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