The pro-Russian separatists in Moldova criticized the EU for promising military assistance to Chisinau on Wednesday and warned that there is a risk of more escalation following what it called a week of terrorist attacks by Ukraine.
Recent fears have grown that Moldova could be involved in the conflict in Ukraine. This is after separatists from Moldova's Transdniestria region blamed Kyiv, claiming they were responsible for shootings, explosions, and cross-border drone incursions.
"The situation in Transdniestria is alarming because Transdniestria suffered terrorist attacks," Vitaly Ignatiev (foreign minister of administration of the self-declared separatist Transdniestria region), said by video link from Tiraspol.
He reiterated the separatists’ earlier accusations that Ukraine was responsible for unrest Transdniestria reported since last week and claimed that another drone from Ukraine, armed with explosives, had been brought down Tuesday.
"Honestly, I don’t see why the Ukrainian side would use these methods against Transdniestria. He said that Transdniestria doesn't threaten Ukraine. "I have repeatedly said that we are an absolutely peaceful country."
Moldova, a small, mostly Romanian-speaking country, is wedged between Romanian and Ukrainian borders for over 30 years. It has been battling a separatist conflict that has not been resolved. Russian peacekeepers are based in Transdniestria (mainly Russian-speaking), which runs along the majority of the Ukrainian border.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moldova's pro-western government has strongly supported Kyiv. On March 3, one week after Russian troops entered Ukraine, Chisinau made a formal request for membership to the EU.
Charles Michel, the head of the EU's council member states, visited Chisinau Wednesday to show solidarity. He said that the bloc was looking into additional military aid for Chisinau. Although he did not give any details, Chisinau stated that the aid it seeks is non-lethal.
Ignatiev spoke out about Michel's promise to provide military assistance.
Separatists refused Reuters permission to report from Transdniestria. They claimed that all foreign journalists' accreditations had been halted following last week’s attack.
When Ignatiev was asked if he could rule Russia's use of its Transdniestria military base to attack Ukraine, he said that he couldn't speak for Moscow.
However, he did not respond to remarks made by a Russian general last month, who stated that Moscow had one of its war goals to seize Ukrainian territory in order to connect with Transdniestria.
"I believe that in these difficult situations, it is crucial to be very careful with one's statements. He said that the remarks of the general were even more concerning his actions.
Ignatiev said that Moldova's request to join the EU was "detached" from reality and warned it would increase the risk of hostilities. This is because Chisinau had made the decision "unilaterally".
"Moldova, Transdniestria and Moldova are in a state unresolved...An unresolved war probably means that Moldova should first resolve the conflict before deciding its political future," he stated.
Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova, stated Wednesday that she does not see any imminent threat of unrest but that she was prepared for "pessimistic" scenarios.
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