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WASHINGTON – Moldova’s ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday that his country is ready to defend its borders if Russia or Belarus invade the former Soviet republic.
“The country is ready [for] all kinds of scenarios, including the worst-case scenario, “Ambassador Eugene Karas told Fox News in an exclusive interview.” So we will defend what needs to be protected. “
A day earlier, a video appeared showing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko standing in front of a map that appeared to show the breakaway Moldovan state of Transnistria as a potential target.
Refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine arrive in Palanka, Moldova, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
(Associated Press)
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Lukashenko is the closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the region. Belarus is playing an important role in preparing for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Error” on the map?
Karas said that the Belarusians had told the Moldovan authorities that putting Moldova on the map was a “mistake”.
The deputy foreign minister summoned the Belarusian ambassador to Moldova to the foreign ministry and was asked for clarity, according to Karas.
“As far as I understand, the ambassador said that there was a mistake on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus,” Karas told Fox News.
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Karas said Moldova is not in a state of panic, although the country is worried about a potential threat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the chairman of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin during their meeting in Moscow.
(Associated Press)
“We are very concerned about this situation. We condemn that, “Karas, who took office in 2020, told Fox News. “One cannot be 100% sure of the next phase. Will we be targeted or not? To date, we do not seem to be the target.”
“But what will happen in a week?” I can’t predict, “Karas continued. “We are very vigilant. We are very concerned.”
Karas said Moldovan defense forces were “prepared” and that there was no “imminent threat” of an invasion.
Belarus joined Russia, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria in opposing a UN resolution Wednesday condemning the Russian invasion.
NATO membership?
Moldova, which has a neutrality provision enshrined in its constitution, has not applied for NATO membership, but Karas told Fox News that the war in Ukraine could change that.
Eugen Caras, Moldova’s ambassador to the United States, told Fox News Digital.
“I would not rule out that this could shape people’s perceptions of the security situation or security needs and requirements in the future,” Karas said.
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He said Moldova has been accepting Ukrainian refugees since Russia invaded a week ago.
“We have more and more refugees moving to Moldova,” he told Fox News. “The latest figures are about 114,000 people who have moved to Moldova since the outbreak of the war.”
“Some of them use Moldova as a transit country and go to the rest of Europe,” Karas continued. “But approximately 55,000 people [are] staying in Moldova. ”