Over 60% of Moldovans want Russian gas despite Ukraine conflict: Poll
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While Europe considers diversifying its energy supplies, some countries still want the Russian gas.
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Part of the Yamal pipeline that brings gas from Russia to Europe (Getty Images)
A poll carried out by Romania's Institute of Marketing and Polls showed on Wednesday that the majority of Moldovans want to continue to import natural gas from Russia even though Europe is considering the diversification of its energy supplies.
The poll results showed that 63% of the respondents believe Russia should be allowed to continue pumping gas to Moldova, while 31% said Moldova should source it at a higher price from Europe.
The survey was conducted among 1,109 people from April 4 to 18.
Russia may pull the plug on gas exports to Moldova as of May 1 after the eastern European country failed to audit its gas debt, an essential condition for having its contract extended for 5 years with Russian gas giant Gazprom.
Germany wants to abandon gas imports from Russia
In the same context, Germany wants to abandon Russian gas imports, as per Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday, who added that "it is better to do it today."
"Security in Europe means that we are reducing and ending our dependence on Russia, primarily in the energy sector. We want to abandon gas imports from Russia. Better to do it today than tomorrow," Baerbock said in a press conference in Riga.
Russia gas halt will send Germany into recession: German institutes
Germany's most prominent economic institutes have been warning earlier this month that an immediate end to Russian energy imports would lead Germany to a "sharp recession" next year.
Berlin, although highly dependent on Russian gas, has resisted calls for a European boycott as a response to the situation in Ukraine.
If Russia or Germany were to close the taps this month, Germany's economic growth will be limited to only 1.9%, and this will push the European giant into a recession by 2023. Thus, the economy will shrink by 2.2%, according to the predictions.
Germany will not rise above the impact of a Russian gas boycott any time within the next two years, according to DIW, Ifo, IfW Kiel, IWH, and RWI.
Without any boycott of Russian gas, the series of current events in Europe are already slowing down Germany's recovery from the sustained economic losses of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the institutes.
Before February 24, a third of German oil imports, 45% of coal purchases, and 55% of gas imports came from Russia.
