Chișinău and Kyiv plan new power lines and closer alignment with EU standards to strengthen energy security next winter
Cooperation between Moldova and Ukraine in the energy sector remains vital in the current volatile regional climate to ensure stable energy supplies and speed up alignment with European Union standards.
Strengthening energy resilience and integrating the electricity markets of Moldova and Ukraine into the common European system topped the agenda during talks in Kyiv on May 15 between Moldova’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Victor Chirilă, and Vitaly Zaychenko, Chairman of the Board of Ukrenergo.
The officials discussed immediate technical solutions, including clear intervention mechanisms for energy surpluses or shortages to improve the balancing of national systems, strict maintenance protocols for cross border power lines, and legislative changes needed to allow cross border electricity trade under European rules.
Preparations for the winter season
Preparing infrastructure for the 2026 to 2027 autumn and winter season ranked among the main priorities during the talks.
Vitaly Zaychenko stressed that the key challenge for both Ukrenergo and Moldovan partners remains expanding the technical capacity of interconnections between the two countries.
“We have projects to build new power lines with clearly defined goals. Their implementation will not only strengthen bilateral ties between Ukraine and Moldova, but also create an energy corridor to Romania in the future. This is how we will expand balancing opportunities for our systems and strengthen regional sustainability,” the Ukrenergo official said in a company statement.
Ambassador Victor Chirilă thanked Ukraine for its rapid support during emergencies, including after Russian strikes damaged the Isaccea to Vulcănești power line, and reiterated the importance of stronger interconnection between the two countries’ energy systems.
Since both countries synchronized with the Continental Europe Network, ENTSO-E, on March 16, 2022, the next step involves full integration into the common European electricity market.
To advance this goal, the Moldovan ambassador proposed stronger expert level consultations and expressed Moldova’s readiness to share its experience in aligning national legislation with European energy directives, a key step toward harmonizing energy markets.
