The U.S. intends to work with Congress to provide $300 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist Moldova in addressing the severe energy crisis made worse by the Russian Federation’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid.
In response to the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to weaponize energy in order to undermine Moldova’s independence and sovereignty, this funding will strengthen the country’s energy security.
With this support, Moldova will be able to meet the immediate needs brought on by Putin’s war while also strengthening its connections to Europe and long-term energy resilience.
Funding includes $80 million in direct budget support to help offset the cost of this winter’s record-high electricity prices. This funding is in response to needs identified by the Government of Moldova to assist its citizens during the current crisis.
This assistance also includes $135 million to support the development of high-priority electric power generation projects in Moldova to help diversify the nation’s electricity supply, and $85 million to strengthen Moldova’s capacity to obtain energy supplies from alternative sources and efforts to improve power system resilience in order to increase the country’s long-term energy security.
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Prior to this announcement, the United States has provided approximately $267 million in emergency support to help Moldova address the economic, energy, security, and humanitarian impacts of Putin’s war against Ukraine, while maintaining progress on its economic and democratic reform agenda.
This included $40.5 million in energy-related funding and $30 million in budget support provided to the Government of Moldova in January 2023 to help ameliorate the energy crisis caused by the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war.
This additional $300 million commitment reaffirms the U.S. government’s continued support for the government and people of Moldova as the country responds to unprecedented economic, energy, security, and humanitarian challenges in the wake of Putin’s war against Ukraine.
The United States and the Republic of Moldova have been partners for more than thirty years. Since 1992, USAID has helped Moldova strengthen democratic governance and economic growth, improve education and healthcare outcomes, and address urgent humanitarian needs, including the needs of refugees from Ukraine.
Story adapted from USAID
