Press Review // Why Krasnoselski refuses Ukraine's help, which would immediately end the energy crisis
The media in the Republic of Moldova commented on Ukraine's willingness to send coal to the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, thus ending the energy crisis caused by Russia after it interrupted the supply of natural gas to the left bank of the Nistru.
Although the separatist leader from Tiraspol, Vadim Krasnoselski, claims that the power plant in Cuciurgan will exhaust the coal needed to produce the essential electricity for the left bank of the Nistru by February 17, satellite images obtained by Free Europe suggest that the plant will burn through the coal more quickly. The radio station refers to images from the American company Maxar Technologies, which show that about half of the stockpile of coal stored outdoors near the main building of the Cuciurgan power plant had disappeared by January 16. If gas supplies to the left bank of the Nistru are not quickly resumed, the situation in the Transnistrian region could suddenly worsen when the coal stock runs out, estimates Free Europe.
Why does Krasnoselski refuse Ukraine's help to IMMEDIATELY end the crisis? – asks and answers Ziarul Național. It refers to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, published after the meeting in Kyiv between President Maia Sandu and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. According to experts, the separatist leader Vadim Krasnoselski would not have allowed Moscow to accept Ukrainian coal for the Cuciurgan power plant. "Cooperation between Transnistrian region and Moldova and Ukraine would contribute to reducing electricity prices across Moldova by 30 percent."The possible acceptance of aid offers and the subsequent provision of cheaper electricity to the rest of Moldova would disrupt Russia's efforts to position itself as the savior and benefactor of the separatist republics, say experts from the Institute for the Study of War, quoted by Ziarul Național.
Most likely, Tiraspol will not accept the aid proposed by Kyiv to supply the Cuciurgan power plant with coal, estimates Angela Grămadă, president of the Association of Experts for Security and Global Affairs, quoted by TVR Moldova. In an interview with the television station, the expert emphasized that "Moscow's stake is the parliamentary elections this year. The energy weapon has been used consistently, and the latest actions of the Kremlin aim to suppress the governance act in Chișinău and discredit the current leadership," concludes Angela Grămadă, quoted by TVR Moldova.
The parliamentary elections this year are a real challenge for the Republic of Moldova. The statement was made by international relations expert Robert Lupițu during the Diplomatic Dimension program on Moldova 1 TV. Authorities must ensure that the European path of RM will be maintained, and European funds will be directed as quickly as possible to the needs of the population, warns Robert Lupițu. "It is very important that when the European Union gives the final green light to the economic growth plan of 1.8 billion euros, this money, distributed in tranches of 600 million per year, is utilized as quickly as possible. There is an urgent need to address any potential social shortcomings, which can easily be manipulated through disinformation campaigns and directed towards a failure of the leadership," said the expert cited by the public television station.
The portal Deschide.md publishes an article signed by deputy Oazu Nantoi, in which the perspective of solving the Transnistrian conflict is analyzed. Oazu Nantoi highlights the example of the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, to whom, on March 10, 1952, Joseph Stalin proposed a plan for the reunification of Germany. This proposed "free and fair elections" throughout the territory of Germany, along with other "democratic" nonsense. But there was one fundamental condition: the reunified Germany was to remain neutral! Oazu Nantoi emphasizes, noting that the same demands are now being made by Russian President Putin regarding Ukraine's non-joining NATO. Konrad Adenauer rejected the "generous offer" of the Kremlin dictator, unequivocally choosing to identify the Federal Republic of Germany with the democratic world, the politician recalls, mentioning that Moldova has also unequivocally identified with EU values, becoming a candidate country! - Oazu Nantoi, however, emphasizes that the final decision regarding the reintegration of the left bank of the Nistru and the strategic path of the Republic of Moldova belongs to the citizens. "What is more serious is that a set of clichés has taken root in Moldovan society, which has become a real barrier to breaking free from this dependency. Therefore, if we (sincerely) wish to see ourselves in the EU, then we must start with ourselves—to rid ourselves of these clichés, and to understand that the responsibility for solving this problem falls on us: the citizens of the Republic of Moldova".
