Zelenskyy suggests Transnistrian authorities may be siding with Russia amid energy crisis
Pravda Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that the authorities in Moldova’s unrecognised Transnistria region may be playing along with Russia by refusing to accept Ukraine’s offer to supply coal to the region during its energy crisis.
Source: Zelenskyy’s evening address
Quote: “And regarding Moldova.This week, I had a conversation with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. We discussed how to address the humanitarian crisis in Transnistria.
Due to deliberate actions by Russia, there is an energy resource vacuum there. People are suffering. This is a calculated move by Russia to undermine public sentiment in Moldova ahead of the elections. Ukraine can help with coal supplies. However, we haven’t yet seen a response from those who effectively control the situation on the left bank of the Dniester River.
If they are playing along with Russia, that’s one thing; it’s entirely different if they genuinely want to help the people of Transnistria. For our part, we are ready.”
Background:
- Transnistria has received no Russian gas since 1 January. Tens of thousands of consumers have been left without gas and local industry has come to a halt.
- The Moldavskaya thermal power plant in Transnistria, which had previously run on free Russian gas, has begun burning coal reserves, which will only last until the end of January. On 3 January, Transnistria introduced rolling blackouts and began experiencing disruptions in the water supply.
- The Moldovan government said Transnistria had dismissed Ukraine’s offer to help resolve the gas crisis, calling it “interference in Transnistria’s internal affairs” and mocking the offer.
- During a phone call on 8 January, Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Maia Sandu agreed to coordinate joint efforts to tackle the energy shortage in Transnistria.
- Sandu sees coal supplies from Ukraine as a way of saving people in the region from a humanitarian catastrophe amid the energy crisis.
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