Photo: Gennady Cherkasov
Deputy Head of Kremlin Administration Dmitry Kozak received a delegation from the Socialist Party of Moldova today. The talks discussed possible concessions by Russia on the issue of gas supplies to Moldova. However, according to a source who attended the meeting, the parties failed to reach an agreement.
“The goal of the Moldovan socialists was to ask for further concessions and compromises regarding the supply of Russian gas to Moldova,” the source said, adding that representatives of the Moldovan delegation emphasized the “youth” and inexperience of the new Moldovan government. They also asked Moscow not to allow a halt to gas supplies, which would lead to an energy collapse and a humanitarian catastrophe in Moldova.
The source also noted that the arguments in favor of not creating Russian gas prices for supplies to Moldova on the market were not convincing … Russia agrees to sign a new long-term gas agreement, but only on the basis of European market gas prices . At the same time, the Moldovan side was offered a 25% discount on condition that the existing debt was repaid and with a large repayment schedule.
It should be noted that on 30 September, a contract was concluded for the supply of gas to Moldova by Gazprom, which was signed in 2008. While negotiations on a new contract were under way, the old one was extended until the end of October. At the same time, the price of gas rose to $ 790 per thousand cubic meters. This price does not suit Moldova, so there is a risk of a complete cessation of supplies. At the same time, Moldova's debt for gas is $ 700 million.