Gazprom offered Moldova a new gas deal in exchange for weakening ties with the EU

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has offered Moldova a new gas contract in exchange for changing its free trade agreement with the EU and postponing energy market reforms. The Financial Times learned about this from its sources, Evropeyska Pravda reports.

During negotiations this month, Gazprom told Moldovan officials that it is ready to cut the price of blue fuel if the country agrees to amend the Free Trade Agreement with the EU, people familiar with the negotiations told the publication.

Gazprom also wants Moldova to postpone the implementation of EU rules requiring the liberalization of gas markets and increased competition, the sources said.

Two people with knowledge of the talks said the Kremlin views the gas talks as part of a broader political settlement with Moldova after pro-European President Maia Sandu won elections last year.

To recap:

On October 22, a state of emergency was declared in Moldova due to critical gas prices. The country cannot agree with the Russian Gazprom on the price for the supply of natural gas.

The Prime Minister of Moldova said that the country would continue negotiations with Gazprom on a new gas supply contract.

On October 25, an official representative of Gazprom said that the company could completely stop gas supplies to the country if Chisinau did not pay off the debt and sign a new contract from December 1.

On October 25, the Moldovan government, for the first time in 30 years, bought natural gas, not from the Russian Gazprom, but signed a contract for the supply of 1 million cubic meters of gas with a Polish state-owned company.

Europe said it would help Moldova solve the gas crisis.

Moldova continued to buy gas from European companies and signed another supply contract with a Dutch company.