Zelenskyy seeks contact with Moldova: Russia is staking a claim to Transnistria
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed officials to establish contact with Moldova after Russia simplified the procedure for granting citizenship to residents of Transnistria.
Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address, as reported by European Pravda
Quote: "Just recently, Russia took another step regarding Transnistria – the Russians simplified access to citizenship for people originating from this region of Moldova. This is a very telling move. It means not only that Russia is looking for new soldiers in this way – because citizenship also entails military obligation – it is also Russia's way of staking a claim to the territory of Transnistria."
Details: Zelenskyy added that in Moscow they often tell different people that they are only interested in Donbas.
"In reality, far more than Donbas is at stake. We must respond to this. All the more so as the presence of the Russian military contingent and intelligence in Transnistria poses a challenge for us too," he stressed.
Zelenskyy underlined that Ukraine is interested in seeing a strong and stable Moldova.
"I have instructed Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with Moldova accordingly on a joint assessment and joint actions. I am also expecting proposals from Ukraine's special services and our intelligence regarding the format of our response. Russia should be thinking more about its own oil refineries and oil transshipment facilities, not about the citizens of other countries or the land of other peoples," he added.
Background:
- Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signed a decree simplifying the granting of Russian citizenship to residents of the unrecognised Transnistria region.
- Earlier this week, Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said that the chances of reintegrating Transnistria are now "higher than ever", although the process will take years.
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