Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu have discussed using Ukrainian coal to ease the energy crisis in Moldova’s separatist Transnistria region.

Pro-Russian Transnistria, which broke away from Moldova in the last days of Soviet rule, has been plagued by blackouts and heating shortages.

The region has long been dependent on Russian gas supplies, but on Jan. 1, the flow of gas to the region through Ukraine was halted after Kiev refused to renew a deal that would have cut off gas to its territory. Passage through the area was allowed.

“We are ready to help Moldova, including coal supplies,” Zelenskiy said in his overnight video address after discussing the crisis with Sandu by telephone.

In a statement posted on the presidential website, Sando said the two leaders agreed on “joint solutions to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis”. What, including the use of “alternative energy sources such as coal”.

Ukrainian coal can be used to run a thermal plant that provides electricity for the separatist region and meets most of the electricity needs of the government-controlled areas of Moldova.