The decision by Russia's PJSC "Gazprom" to halt gas supplies to Moldova aims to undermine the political and economic stability of the country, according to a joint statement from the Northern Baltic countries (NB8, which includes Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Estonia), released on Tuesday.
"We note Gazprom's decision to cease gas supplies to Moldova starting January 1, 2025. These actions are intended to destabilize the political and economic situation in Moldova," - the statement reads .
The Northern Baltic "eight" praised the actions of the Moldovan authorities in ensuring stable gas and electricity supplies under the current circumstances and expressed intentions to bolster international assistance to Moldova.
"We will work with the European Commission and other key partners to be prepared to enhance international support for Moldova in these efforts. Recent improvements in infrastructure and increased electricity transmission capacity have significantly enhanced Moldova's resilience to external energy pressures, reflecting the country's commitment to strengthening its energy security," the statement said.
"We remain firmly committed to supporting Moldova in addressing its current energy challenges and advancing the energy sector reform. These efforts are crucial not only for Moldova's sustainable development but also for the stability of the entire region, especially in light of Europe's broader energy security goals and the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine," the NB8 added.
As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently warned of the Russian authorities' intention to "turn Moldova away from Europe" and contest the country's parliament in the upcoming elections.
Advisor to the President's Office Daria Zarivna emphasized on Tuesday in her Telegram channel that Russia's goal is to undermine support for the pro-Western authorities in Moldova and assist pro-Russian forces in taking over parliament. According to her, the entire Russian information machine is at work to amplify disinformation, accusing the pro-Western government of the humanitarian crisis in Transnistria.
"In fact, the question of liberating Transnistria from Russian occupation is becoming increasingly urgent. In this case, Russian interests must be definitively dismantled there," Zarivna wrote.