Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean believes that Russia may withdraw its troops from Transnistria as part of negotiations on Ukraine and EU security.

He said this in the program “Cabinetul din Umbră” on Jurnal TV.

According to him, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU are interested in the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the left bank of the Dniester. And that there is now an “international context” that could lead to this.

“There is now an international context that could lead to the fact that Russia could withdraw its troops from the left bank of the Dniester as part of this negotiation process. Perhaps not necessarily in the peace negotiation process, it is hard to imagine in the near future, but in the negotiation process that concerns Ukraine and the new EU security architecture. Here, in this context, there is such an opportunity and a chance,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean stated.

Therefore, according to him, Moldova will insist that this issue be presented during the negotiations. Since any negotiations that are now related to peace or a ceasefire in Ukraine are essentially about a new security architecture in Europe.

In addition, the Prime Minister commented on the closure of the Russian Cultural Center in Chisinau.

“It was not a cultural center, but a center with agents of influence. And to those who complain, we say that Moldova has nothing against Russian culture and the Russian language. Russia should respect Moldovans and not send its agents of influence disguised as cultural figures,” he stated.

Russia as a threat to Moldova

In 2023, Moldova for the first time identified Russia as a national security threat that wants to eliminate the country’s statehood. This statement was recorded in the new national security strategy.

“The Russian Federation and its proxies in the Republic of Moldova are the most dangerous and constant source of threat, which, if not countered, could have grave consequences for the statehood, democracy and prosperity of our country.”

After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova significantly strengthened its security cooperation with European countries and the EU. In particular, a number of defense cooperation agreements were signed with the EU, the UK and France.

In addition, in 2023, Moldova increased defense spending by almost 70% and began receiving significant (proportional) material and technical assistance from European countries and the United States.

In particular, vehicles, infantry weapons, armored personnel carriers, radar and means of countering drones were transferred.