KYIV, Dec 12 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide Moldova with $50 million to finance alternative purchase of natural gas from Naftogaz Ukrainy during a month if transit of Russian gas through Ukraine is stopped.

The relevant agreement was signed in Chisinau on December 11 by Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu and the EBRD's Managing Director in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Matteo Patrone.