Transnistrian foreign minister says there are no alternatives to gas supplies from Russia

At the moment, there are no alternatives and mechanisms for gas supplies from Russia to Transnistria. This was reported by the republic's Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev on January 30 on air of the Rossiya-24 TV channel .

"There are no alternative mechanisms other than the proposal offered by the Russian side," Ignatiev said.

He believes that the sooner Moldova agrees and realizes gas supplies, the sooner electricity will arrive in the republic.

Ignatiev also added that the European Commission's (EC) offer of gas aid in the form of a €30 million grant is nothing more than a "media ploy on water" which will not become a "lifeline" from the EU.

According to the foreign minister, Moldova is blocking the European gas grant to Transnistria.

Gas mask phase: energy crisis worsens in Transnistria

Chisinau blocks fuel supplies to the republic

Earlier, on January 27, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that Chisinau would provide the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic with 3 million cubic meters of gas on loan. The second phase of support is scheduled for February 1-10 and includes a €30 million EU grant to buy natural gas at an anti-crisis price to convert it into electricity. The plan will be finalized over the next two weeks.

Gas supplies from Russia to Moldova and Transnistria stopped on January 1 due to Ukraine 's refusal to extend the agreement on transit through its territory and debts of the Moldovan side to Gazprom. In mid-January, it became known that Russia was ready to provide assistance to the DMR and start humanitarian gas supplies.