On Friday evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania announced its position regarding the previously published press release of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in which Moscow threatened to respond to any “provocation” carried out in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. “This will be considered an attack on Russia,” Moscow warned.

It will be recalled that on Friday, Russia declared that it would “respond” to any Ukrainian military “provocation” in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria in the Republic of Moldova, where it maintains a military contingent. “Let there be no doubt: the armed forces of the Russian Federation will give an adequate response to any provocations by the Kyiv regime,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, insisting that any actions that pose a “threat” to the Russian military deployed in Transnistria “will be regarded as an attack on the Russian Federation.”

The reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania:

• “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania condemns the baseless accusations contained in the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation dated February 24, 2023 regarding the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the threatening and provocative rhetoric. used”.
• “Deliberate dissemination of information that does not correspond to the reality on the ground is an extremely dangerous approach in the current security context, in which the Russian Federation is intensifying its war of aggression against Ukraine.”
• “This attempt to artificially create tension and destabilization in the region and in relation to the Republic of Moldova is unacceptable.”
• “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania calls for responsibility, to refrain from aggressive, escalating and provocative rhetoric, as well as to refrain from any statements and actions that may affect stability in the region and the Republic of Moldova,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent in a statement.

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Read also: MFA from Chisinau after Moscow’s warning regarding Transnistria: “Provocative statements”

The reaction of the authorities of Chisinau and Kyiv

On Friday, the Republic of Moldova rejected the existence of a “direct threat” from Ukraine to the separatist region of Transnistria.

• “The Ministry of Defense reports that it monitors all events, actions and changes that occur in the region and in the territory controlled by the Tiraspol regime.
• We note that there are currently no direct threats to the military security of the state.
• The Ministry works with all other power structures of the state to jointly prevent any attempts at destabilization, maintain peace and stability in the country, so that our citizens are safe.
• The forces of the National Army as part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the security zone are working as usual.
• The Ministry of Defense will immediately inform the public if possible threats to the country’s security are identified.
• The spread of false information aims to create panic and confusion among people on both sides of the Dniester.
• We call on citizens to remain calm and receive information only from official sources,” the Ministry of Defense of Chisinau said.

The head of Chisinau’s delegation in the United Control Commission (a joint structure formed by representatives of the Republic of Moldova, Transnistria and Russia) Alexandru Flencea believes that such statements from Moscow, and not only, are fakes:

• “There is a full-scale war in the neighboring state, and we are in the immediate vicinity of this war. Information warfare is also a part of conventional warfare. That is why similar statements from Moscow, and not only, should be interpreted as part of the information war, which involves a large amount of disinformation.”

For his part, the advisor to the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, stated during a program on one of Chisinau’s TV channels that Ukraine will never allow such actions without direct consultations with the Republic of Ukraine. Moldova and the countries of the European Union.

Russia issues a “warning” to the USA, NATO and Ukraine

Transnistria, a strip of territory that broke away from the Republic of Moldova in the early 1990s, sits on Ukraine’s western border and has become the subject of heightened tensions in recent weeks.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Defense of Russia accused Kyiv of “preparation” for an “invasion” of Transnistria.

Russian diplomacy expanded on the report on Friday, saying Ukraine had massed “military personnel and equipment” near Transnistria and that there had been “deployment of artillery firing positions and an unprecedented increase in Ukrainian drone flights” over the territory.

“We warn the United States, NATO members and their Ukrainian proteges against any such adventures,” the Russian Foreign Ministry added in statements reminiscent of Cold War era statements.

The rise in tension comes after new Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recan recently called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria, angering the Kremlin.

The pro-European authorities in Chisinau previously accused Moscow of trying to organize a coup d’état in Moldova.

• VIDEO Maia Sandu announced a violent Russian plan with attacks and hostage-taking to undermine the Republic of Moldova / What will be Moscow’s strategy
• Putin canceled the decree on the recognition of the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova” in the Transnistrian issue

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