Moldova’s pro-Western government says it hopes the EU will help the post-Soviet country if it stops receiving Russian natural gas via Ukraine.
Moldovan Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar made the remark in a statement to RFE/RL's Moldovan Service on April 11.
It comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter warning 18 European countries, including Moldova, that Ukraine's gas debts might eventually lead to a halt in Russian gas supplies for countries in western and Central Europe.
Lazar said he hopes things “will not go that far" but, if they do, he hopes his country’s EU partners will help.
He added that Moldova can also receive gas from its Western neighbor, Romania and non-Russian gas from Ukraine.
Moldova -- is planning to sign an association agreement with the EU in June -- is almost entirely dependent on Russian energy.
Moldovan Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar made the remark in a statement to RFE/RL's Moldovan Service on April 11.
It comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter warning 18 European countries, including Moldova, that Ukraine's gas debts might eventually lead to a halt in Russian gas supplies for countries in western and Central Europe.
Lazar said he hopes things “will not go that far" but, if they do, he hopes his country’s EU partners will help.
He added that Moldova can also receive gas from its Western neighbor, Romania and non-Russian gas from Ukraine.
Moldova -- is planning to sign an association agreement with the EU in June -- is almost entirely dependent on Russian energy.
