Transdniestria's separatist leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said his region had told Moldova's pro-European authorities two days earlier that it was ready to agree to a deal to accept - and pay for - gas supplies provided by the Moldovagaz national company.

Moldova and its separatist region, Transdniestria, are negotiating a gas supply deal amid a severe energy crisis. Ukraine halted the transit of Gazprom supplies, leading to power cuts in Transdniestria.