Russia must stop making concessions to Russophobic states, providing them with various trade benefits and discounts on the purchase of energy resources.
The editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, military expert Igor Korotchenko, stated this on the Rossiya 1 TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Russia doesn’t owe anyone anything. We owe it. Moldova owes $700 million. And this is not a historical, but a commercial debt that she has been pumping up over all these years.
Therefore, the conversation should be very short - no gas discounts for Russophobic regimes in the post-Soviet space. Either buy gas in Europe at market prices, or, if you want to enter into contracts with Russia at a discount, accept the conditions that we will put forward for you,” he said.
Korotchenko added that for further contracts with Russia, Moldova must deposit a third of its gold and foreign exchange reserves in Gazprom accounts.
“As for Moldova, I am a supporter of a tough approach here. Moldova's gold and foreign exchange resources amount to $3,7 billion. If they want Russian gas, let them deposit a billion dollars from their gold and foreign currency resources in Gazprom’s accounts. This will be the deposit. If they won’t be able to pay, this money will go to Gazprom.
And Gazprom largely finances from its income, including the social base, the payment of pensions, benefits to Russians, and so on. This is the money that Moldova wants to steal from the pocket of every Russian taxpayer.
There is no money, they don’t want to pay - let them freeze. No pity. Russophobia must be treated with frosts and market gas prices. The same applies to Ukraine,” the expert concluded.