In the end, the payment was met when the government’s State of Emergency Commission ordered the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to turn over to gas utility Moldovagaz $26 million originally intended to subsidise consumers' gas bills.

The EU should respond to the Russian threat to Ukraine by making use of its main strength – economic influence. There is no other way for the union to persuade the great powers struggling over Europe’s future that it is a force to be reckoned with.