Ukraine President Zelenskly Says They Have Uncovered A Russian Plot To Destabilize Moldova

Daily Mail: Putin plot to 'DESTROY Moldova': Zelensky claims Ukraine has intercepted Russian plans to take over Moldova 

* Zelensky claimed today that Russia was planning the 'destruction' of Moldova 

* Speaking to MEPs in Brussels, he noted similarities to the plan to invade Ukraine 

* Moldovan intelligence confirmed Zelensky's account in a later statement 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country has intercepted plans by Russian secret services to destroy Moldova. 

Speaking to European Union leaders in Brussels, Mr Zelensky said he recently told Moldovan President Maia Sandu about the alleged scheme.

'I have informed her that we have intercepted the plan of the destruction of Moldova by the Russian intelligence,' Mr Zelensky said through a translator. 

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WNU Editor: The Moldovan government has been facing a lot of opposition and protests for its policies. So it does not surprise me that they bought into this Ukraine line .... Moldova Accuses Russia of Destabilization Attempts (AFP). More here .... Chisinau Confirms Zelenskiy Statement On Russian Plan To Destabilize Moldova (RFE). 

Ukraine President Zelenskly Says They Have Uncovered A Russian Plot To Destabilize Moldova  

Zelenskyy: Ukraine caught Russian plan to 'destroy' Moldova -- AP  

Russian plot to 'destroy' European country thwarted by Ukraine -- FOX News  

Zelenskyy claims Ukrainian intelligence discovered Putin’s plot to invade Moldova -- Euroweekly 

Zelensky says he warned Sandu about Russia's plan to destabilize Moldova -- Ukrinform

Moldova's Intelligence Chief Believes Russia Will Invade His Country In Early 2023

Euractiv/Reuters: Moldova fears new Russian push towards breakaway east next year 

Moldova’s spy chief warned on Monday (19 December) of a “very high” risk of a new Russian offensive towards his country’s east next year and said Moscow still aimed to secure a land corridor through Ukraine to the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria. 

The comments by Alexandru Musteaţă, head of the Information and Security Service, echo recent messages out of Ukraine where top army generals have warned in recent days of the threat of a major new Russian offensive early next year. 

“The question is not whether the Russian Federation will undertake a new advance towards Moldova’s territory, but when it will do so,” Musteaţă told the TVR-Moldova television channel. 

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Update #1: Russia may launch attack on Moldova in early 2023, says country's security chief (New Voice of Ukraine) 

Update #2: Russia planned to invade Moldova in early 2023 (Odessa Journal)  

WNU Editor: Russia will need to cover a lot of territory to make that happen.

Russia's Gazprom Says No further Gas Cuts To Moldova

Russia's Sudzha gas pumping station is seen, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. Russian energy giant Gazprom has threatened to reduce natural gas supplies through the last pipeline heading to Europe via Ukraine, saying the amount it's supplying for Moldova is not ending up in the former Soviet republic. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov, File)  

CNN: Russia backtracks on threat to cut gas supply to Moldova via Ukraine  

Russian state gas producer Gazprom withdrew a threat to reduce gas supplies to Moldova from Monday but said it reserved the right to lower or halt flows in future if Moldova failed to make agreed payments. 

Last week, Gazprom accused Ukraine of withholding gas supplies which pass through the country on the way to Moldova — something Kyiv denied — and said it could start reducing those flows from Monday. 

In its latest statement, Gazprom said that Moldovan natural gas company Moldovagaz had paid for gas deliveries in November, adding that it had received payment for what it called gas destined for Moldovan customers but which remained in Ukraine.  

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Update #1: Russian Energy Giant Says No Further Gas Cuts to Moldova (AP)  

Update #2: Russia disrupts gas flow to Moldova (UPI)  

WNU Editor: Moldova's government pro-Western views is an issue with the Kremlin. But it is all about money. Moldova is facing an economic crisis and a government that is dependent on Western aid. They have been late in paying.

Moldova's Prime Minister Fears A Russian Invasion

 

Daily Mail: Moldova's PM says she is 'very worried' Putin will invade her country next and warns 'nobody is safe'– as Sergei Lavrov says Russia aims to topple Zelensky 

* In recent months, Moscow's troops have made gains in East and South Ukraine 

* Analysts believe the Kremlin is trying to create a land bridge to Transnistria 

* The break-away region controls a sliver of land between Moldova and Ukraine 

* Moldova's PM Natalia Gavrilita said troops are in Transnistria, and that her country fears Russia could invade her tiny nation of 2.5 million people 

Moldova's Prime Minister has said she is very worried Russia will invade her country next, while warning that no country is safe from Vladimir Putin. 

Natalia Gavrilita's warning came after Moscow's forces made gains in Ukraine's south and east, near to the Moldova-Ukraine border, in recent months. 

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow's overarching goal in Ukraine is to topple President Volodymyr Zelensky's government, expressing the Kremlin's war aims in some of the bluntest terms yet.  

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WNU Editor: This is helping to raise tensions .... Moldova Blocks Russian Troop Rotation In Transnistria. Ukrainian Army Says It Is Ready to Help Moldova Expel Russian Soldiers Stationed In Transnistria (July 25, 2022). 

 Moldova's Prime Minister Fears A Russian Invasion  

Moldova ‘very worried’ about Russia invasion: ‘Nobody is safe’ -- The Hill  

Ukraine's neighbor worried about Russian invasion -- Politico  

Moldova says it fears a Russian invasion as more neighbors ring alarm over Ukraine war -- Insider  

Moldova fears potential Russian invasion, prime minister says -- Axios

Moldovan Government Will Declare A State Of Emergency If Not Given A Deferral On Payments To Russia's Gazprom

The Ungheni–Chișinău gas pipeline. Photo: Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure of Moldova  

TASS: Moldova may declare state of emergency if Gazprom doesn't give deferral on gas payments 

In October, Moldovagaz and Gazprom extended the contract for the supply of gas for five years 

CHISINAU, January 18. /TASS/. The Moldovan government will introduce a state of emergency in the country, if Gazprom does not agree to give a deferral to Moldovagaz on payments for gas consumption in January, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita told reporters on Tuesday. 

"We are negotiating with Gazprom on deferral of payments until the revision of gas tariffs. Depending on the response of Gazprom, we are considering the introduction of a state of emergency for targeted financial measures that cannot be taken in the usual mode," she said. 

The Prime Minister explained that the government is considering the possibility of returning the value added tax to Moldovagaz, which will make it possible to allocate at least $22 million for settlements with Gazprom, as well as other measures.  

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WNU Editor: It looks like Moldova's gas supply is going to be cut .... Moldova faces new Russian gas supply halt (Upstream).

Update: Kremlin says economics, not politics, involved in Gazprom gas supplies to Moldova (TASS).

Russia's Gazprom Will Halt Gas Flows To Moldova In 48 Hours Over Non-Payment

Last month, Chisinau declared a state of emergency after Gazprom threatened to cut off gas supplies to Moldova at the end of the year if the impoverished ex-Soviet republic's existing gas contract had not been extended by then.  

Radio Free Europe: Gazprom Theatens To Cut Off Gas To Moldova In 48 Hours  

Russia's state-controlled Gazprom told Moldova on November 22 that it will cut off gas to the country in 48 hours if it does not pay tens of millions of dollars for recent deliveries. 

Last month, Chisinau declared a state of emergency and started buying gas from countries other than Russia after its contract with Gazprom, the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, expired at the end of September, and the two sides failed to agree on details and pricing of a new long-term deal. 

But in a breakthrough on October 28, the Moldovan government and Gazprom announced a new price formula for a five-year agreement to keep gas flowing.  

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WNU Editor: Moldova is looking for another supplier. But with Europe facing high natural gas prices and low inventory I doubt Moldova is going to be successful. 

 Russia's Gazprom Will Halt Gas Flows To Moldova In 48 Hours Over Non-Payment  

Gazprom threatens to halt gas supply to Moldova within 48 hours -- RT  

Gazprom Issues Notice to Moldova on Gas Supplies Suspension -- Sputnik  

Moldova scrambles to pay $73 million as Russia again threatens to cut off gas -- Reuters  

Russia threatens to cut off Moldova's gas, again -- EU Observer  

Gazprom Will Halt Gas Flows To Moldova In 48 Hours Over Non-Payment -- Zero Hedge

EU Claims Russia Is Using Natural Gas Sales As A Political Weapon Against Moldova

 

Politico: EU blames Russia for ‘political pressure’ in Moldova gas squeeze 

Europe’s poorest country is mired in a difficult gas supply negotiation with Gazprom.

Russia is using natural gas sales as a "political weapon" against Moldova, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday. 

Moldova, Europe's poorest country, is involved in a bitter dispute with Russia's Gazprom over energy supplies. 

Gazprom has historically supplied Moldova, but its demand for a steep increase in prices at a time when gas prices are soaring around the world prompted the Moldovan government to refuse the deal.  

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WNU Editor: Russia says it is not about politics, but business .... ‘Purely commercial’: Kremlin dismisses claims of ‘politicized’ gas talks with Moldova (TASS). 

More News On The EU Saying Russia Is Using Natural Gas Sales As A Political Weapon Against Moldova  

The Kremlin Is Threatening To Turn Off Moldova's Gas. Pro-Russia Separatists Are Blamed For Running Up The Energy Bill -- RFE  

Moldova: Russia threatens gas supply in Europe's poorest state -- BBC 

Russia ‘weaponising’ gas supply in Moldova dispute, EU says -- Al Jazeera  

Will Putin turn off Moldova's gas taps? -- DW