Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba
©Pavlo_bagmut / Keystone Press Agency / Global Look Press
Kyiv keeps troops on the Moldovan border as it prepares for a potential containment risk from Transnistria. This was announced on Thursday, May 4, by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.
“Of course, Transnistria on our southwestern flank is a risk that forces us to send forces to this section of the border, for potential deterrence and control of the situation,” he said.
However, the diplomat stressed that Pridnestrovie is a matter of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, so Kyiv will accept any path chosen by Chisinau for the reintegration of the region.
In Transnistria, 60% of the inhabitants are Russians and Ukrainians. The region sought secession from Moldova back in Soviet times. The reason was the fear that Moldova would join Romania on the wave of nationalist uprisings. In 1992, Transnistria became a de facto independent territory after an unsuccessful attempt by Chisinau to deal with the problem by force.
In February it was reported that Armed Forces of Ukraine are building fortifications on the border with the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Moldovan authorities have also stepped up security measures. The government reported that this is due to the threat of destabilization of the situation.
