To begin with, on February 23, the Ministry of Defence of Russia, announced that Kyiv was preparing an armed provocation against Transnistria. As a reason for the invasion of the republic, staging an alleged offensive of Russian troops from the territory of the PMR to Ukraine is planned. In fact, Russia already staged provocations in Transnistria a couple of times, for example in May last year. Their goal was an attempt to open an additional front in the Odessa region. Following that on 28 March, the head of the Russian-baked Transnistrian republic, Krasnoselsky, argued that the “direct path” to a global conflict is through Transnistria.
Krasnoselsky believes that if Transnistria intervenes, Moldova will also intervene, which will create a chain of escalation into the world war between NATO and Russia with its allies. Later that day Lavrov added that Kyiv unequivocally took the side of Chisinau and supports its allegedly militant aspirations, destructive aspirations concerning Transnistria, digs defensive structures, and fortifications between Ukraine and Transnistria. Russian side still insists that the general situation in Transnistria degraded due to Sandu's "anti-Russian, anti-Pridnestrovian" policy.
Despite the Russian aggressive statements, Moldova does not consider this development of actions seriously. "I want to assure our citizens that now Moldova is not threatened with war. The Russian army cannot get here as long as Ukraine holds on - and thus protects Moldova. We are grateful to Ukrainians for their courage and love of freedom," Sandu said on 17 March.
However, the president noted that Russia continues to destabilize the situation inside Moldova. Besides, Romanian Deputy Secretary of State for NATO Mircea Geoana believes that Russia does not have enough resources to reach Odessa and Transnistria, and NATO does not see the risk of an imminent military attack on the Republic of Moldova. Finally, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of Moldova Oleg Serebrian on the air of the TVR Moldova TV channel announced that Chisinau was not going to terminate the agreement on the peaceful settlement of the 1992-armed conflict with Transnistria.
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