February 24 (Portal) – Russia told the West on Friday that, a day after Moscow accused Ukraine of planning an invasion, it has dismissed any actions threatening Russian peacekeepers in the breakaway Transnistria region as an attack on itself would see for myself.
In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Moscow’s claim that Ukraine wants to take over the region, while Moldova reiterated that the allegations were unfounded.
The warning comes amid mounting concerns in Moldova, a small former Soviet republic that borders Ukraine, of a possible Russian threat. Pro-European President Maia Sandu this month accused Moscow of plotting a coup.
On Thursday, Russia accused Kiev of planning an invasion of Transnistria, which borders Ukraine. The primarily Russian-speaking area broke away from Moldova’s control in 1990, a year before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
last update
Watch 2 more stories
“We warn the United States, NATO member states and their Ukrainian wards not to take another reckless step,” Russia’s foreign ministry said.
“Any action that threatens their security will be considered an attack on the Russian Federation under international law.”
Around 1,700 Russian soldiers are stationed in Transnistria, which has around 440,000 inhabitants.
Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said Russia’s “provocative” comments on a possible Ukrainian attack were untrue.
“The Moldovan authorities have dismissed these statements as unfounded in order to manipulate public opinion. The security situation in the region is stable,” he wrote on the messaging app Telegram on Friday.
Zelenskyy said at a press conference that Russia is constantly carrying out provocations.
“You clearly understand that we respect the territorial integrity of Moldova and believe that the territory of Transnistria is the territory of the independent state of Moldova,” he said.
Zelenskyi said last week it was “obvious” that Ukraine was not the last country in Moscow’s sights and that the Kremlin was considering ways to “choke” Moldova.
Reporting by Caleb Davis, Alexander Tanas and Dan Peleschuk; Editing by David Ljunggren, Alistair Bell and Diane Craft
Our standards: The Thomson Portal Trust Principles.