Moldova has assured that it will pay for gas supplied by Russia but withheld in Ukraine through which it transits, after Moscow threatened to reduce its deliveries by accusing kyiv of siphoning off a gas pipeline. A small ex-Soviet republic that is a candidate for entry into the European Union, Moldova heats up largely with this Russian gas which passes through Ukrainian territory. On Tuesday, the Russian supplier Gazprom accused kyiv of diverting part of it and threatened to reduce the volumes sent to Chisinau from next week.
“To be clear, all the gas delivered to Moldova ends up arriving in our country,” Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu said. “The volumes of gas that Gazprom refers to that remain in Ukraine are our reserves and they are stored in warehouses in Ukraine. Our country has always paid for these quantities and will continue to pay them in full,” he added.