Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Wednesday discussed using Ukrainian coal to ease the energy crisis which has subjected Moldova's separatist Transdniestria region to blackouts and heating shortage.

Kyiv and Chisinau are working together to find solutions to the ongoing energy crisis in Moldova, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced on Jan. 8. The Russian state energy company Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Moldova on Jan.

The move was connected with, but not required by, the expiration at the end of 2024 of Russia’s contract with Ukraine for transit of natural gas to Europe. The looming energy crisis is likely to have a strong negative effect on Moldova’s ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) in parliamentary elections due in the second half of 2025.

Presidents of Ukraine and Moldova Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Maia Sandu agreed in a telephone conversation on 8 January to coordinate joint actions to address the energy shortage in the breakaway Transnistria region.

Zelenskyy made the statement after a phone call with Moldovan President Maia Sandu earlier the same day. “Of course, the main goal is to help Moldova through this difficult period of energy challenges and prevent Moscow from inciting social unrest,