The Republic of Moldova and the Russian supplier Gazprom have settled their recently escalated dispute over natural gas supplies. The contract with the supplier Moldovagaz will be extended by five years on November 1, announced the Russian state-owned company. The Moldovan Ministry of Infrastructure stated that the pricing conditions were based on a proposal from the Moldovan side. It was agreed that the arrears would be assessed jointly and a plan to pay off the debt would be negotiated. Russia had put Moldova’s debt to Gazprom at around $ 709 million.
After the old supply contract expired at the end of September, both sides were initially unable to agree on new terms. In view of Moldova’s arrears, Gazprom threatened to stop deliveries in the middle of the heating season. The EU and Germany had thought about how to help the economically weak country that is ruled by pro-Western politicians. The dispute was reminiscent of previous conflicts, for example with Ukraine.