Russia told the West on Friday it would view any action that threatens Russian peacekeeping troops in Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region as an attack on itself, a day after Moscow accused Ukraine of planning an invasion .
In Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denied Moscow’s claim that Ukraine wants to take over the region.
The warning comes amid growing concerns in Moldova, a small former Soviet republic that borders Ukraine, of a possible Russian threat. Its pro-European president, Maia Sandu, this month accused Moscow of planning a coup.
On Thursday, Russia accused Kiev of planning to invade Transnistria, which borders Ukraine. The predominantly Russian-speaking territory fell out of Moldovan control in 1990, a year before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“We warn the United States, NATO member states and their Ukrainian protégés not to take another reckless step,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
There are approximately 1,700 Russian troops in Transnistria, which has a population of approximately 440,000.
Zelenskiy said in a press conference that Russia is engaged in constant provocations.
“They 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.
Moldova’s Defense Ministry has denied Russia’s allegations of a surge in Ukrainian troops.
Source: Terra
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